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A baby girl was born on Friday—just before Shabbos—to the almanah of R’ Raphael Mordechai ben R’ Moshe Fishoff Hy”d, who was brutally murdered in a terror attack in Hadera this past Erev Yom Kippur. The newborn is the seventh child in the Fishoff family and will, heartbreakingly, never meet her father—an exceptional talmid chacham who gave his life al kiddush Hashem. R’ Raphael Mordechai, just 35 years old at the time of his murder, was stabbed in a horrific multi-location terror attack on October 10, 2024. He was critically wounded and later succumbed to his injuries at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, leaving behind a grieving wife and six yesomim. Now, just months later, his widow gave birth to a baby girl. Chazal teach in Yerushalmi Moed Katan that when a new child is born during the year of aveilus, it softens the midas hadin upon the family. Some poskim say this applies to the birth of a daughter as well, and even to any simchah that enters the home. R’ Raphael Mordechai was known for his extraordinary tzidkus, his complete separation from olam hazeh, and his tireless devotion to Torah. From his early years in Yeshivas Darkei Moshe in Bnei Brak to his ascent as a leading ben Torah in Yeshivas Knesses Yitzchok in Hadera, he lived with a palpable sense of kedushah and purpose. Even after marriage, he remained fully immersed in limud haTorah, admired by his peers and roshei yeshiva. During the brief shivah, held just before Yom Kippur, his almanah shared a powerful insight with HaRav Yehoshua Ehrenberg, Rosh Yeshivas Knesses Yitzchok: “All his life, my husband would say that he wanted to be zocheh to die al kiddush Hashem.” That awe-inspiring aspiration was fulfilled in the most tragic way. Yehi zichro baruch. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has lost a two-family home he owned in Brooklyn after failing to pay his mortgage for over a decade, accumulating nearly $1 million in debt, The Post has discovered. The home was seized by Bank of America following years of non-payment on a loan tied to a failed business venture.

Williams originally took out the mortgage to help finance a vegan sandwich shop in Park Slope, but the business eventually folded. In January, a state judge issued a “final judgment of foreclosure” on the home at 1392 E. 98th St. in Canarsie, siding with the bank. Court documents show Williams stopped making payments on the $389,600 loan he secured in 2006.

Despite earning $184,800 a year as public advocate, along with rental income from the property, Williams ceased paying the $1,344 monthly mortgage in 2010. This financial delinquency continued unchecked for years.

In 2014, Bank of America, which had acquired Countrywide Financial—the original lender—during the housing crisis, filed for foreclosure. A court-appointed referee later determined that by May 2023, the total amount owed had reached $784,927.13, factoring in interest and late fees.

Williams challenged the ruling in court but was unsuccessful. Last month, the house was put up for auction, but with no buyers willing to match the amount owed, the property reverted to Bank of America. According to auction.com, the outstanding debt had swelled to $944,582.

Councilman Robert Holden, a Queens Democrat who has criticized Williams in the past, was unsparing in his reaction. “Jumaane Williams has been paid a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary for years, yet he still couldn’t pay his bills or keep his home,” he said. “Like many in government, he can’t even manage his own life — so why should anyone trust him to manage the people’s business?”

Records indicate that Williams and his mother bought the Canarsie property in 2005 for $370,500. He became the sole owner one year later.

Williams has repeatedly cited unfavorable loan terms and non-paying tenants as the root of his financial troubles. His café, Earth Tonez, shuttered in 2008, just two years after he launched it with the mortgage funds.

The foreclosure clashes sharply with Williams’ public role as a defender of tenants. His office regularly publishes a “Worst Landlords Watchlist” targeting negligent property owners across the city.

“Like the very slumlords he put on his ‘Worst Landlords Watchlist,’ Jumaane Williams pocketed rent from tenants, pulled in a six-figure salary, and still failed to make basic mortgage payments on his investment property,” said Arvind Sooknanan, spokesperson for Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who is running against Williams in the upcoming Democratic primary. “This isn’t just bad judgment — it’s pure hypocrisy.”

The Canarsie property has also run into trouble with city agencies. In 2020, the Department of Sanitation fined Williams $300 for maintaining a “dirty area” outside the building. The fine later increased to $401 but was ultimately settled for $267.

Williams had also fallen behind on water payments, with his outstanding balance surpassing $10,000 in 2022. Records now indicate that this debt has been cleared.

Despite owning the Canarsie property, Williams doesn’t live there. He resides in Bay Ridge at the Fort Hamilton U.S. Army Garrison with his wife, a lobbyist, and his stepdaughter.

Responding to the report, Williams’ spokesperson William Gerlich said, “As has been extensively covered for a decade, the Public Advocate has an investment property in the foreclosure process, in part due to exploitative banking practices.”

“Many New Yorkers are facing much worse today – losing their family homes as a result of the affordability crisis and predatory practices – which is why the Public Advocate constantly stands up to the mayor’s rent hikes and the bad actors driving families out of our city.”

{Matzav.com}

During a visit to the Navy’s Shayetet 13 commando unit today, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says the military is increasing pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. “This week, we are sending tens of thousands of orders to our reserve personnel to intensify and expand our action in Gaza. We are increasing the pressure to return our people [held hostage] and defeat Hamas,” Zamir says in remarks published by the IDF.

WATCH: Footage from the extinguished fire at a motorcycle factory in Mashhad, Iran, shows the extensive damage caused by the blaze. No injuries were reported.

The latest slimming craze, the weight loss drug Ozempic, is now coming with a surprising and unwanted cosmetic issue nicknamed “Ozempic mouth,” according to a new report.

Those taking higher doses of the popular GLP-1 medication are noticing significant changes in their appearance, particularly in the face, due to rapid fat loss, a cosmetic dermatologist based in New York revealed to DailyMail.com.

“Many users of Ozempic who I know report noticeable volume loss in the face, which can result in the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls around the mouth,” Dr. Michele Green explained.

“This volume loss can also worsen the appearance of existing fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity contributing to a more aged smile and overall look.”

Green described the telltale signs as deepened creases near the mouth corners, more visible lines on the lips, and drooping skin around the lower face and jawline.

In response, many affected individuals are turning to cosmetic procedures to counter the effects. Dermal fillers have become a go-to solution to restore plumpness around the mouth and rejuvenate facial contours.

Green said that fillers, which are injectable gels used to smooth wrinkles and add volume, can “restore volume to the face, smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and plump the skin to create a more youthful-looking appearance.”

In addition to fillers, Green recommends Thermage, a non-surgical procedure that tightens skin using radiofrequency waves.

“As the body’s collagen levels increase, the skin becomes firmer and tighter,” she said, noting that full results appear after four to six months and can last for just under two years.

“Patients on Ozempic should ideally undergo a Thermage procedure early in treatment or before treatment begins to prevent the development of loose, sagging skin on the face.”

This newest concern joins a growing list of aesthetic side effects linked to Ozempic, including the previously reported “Ozempic face,” where users develop gaunt features and skin sagging.

Another emerging issue is what’s being dubbed “Ozempic feet,” involving significant loss of skin elasticity on the tops of users’ feet, further spotlighting the unintended consequences of the wildly popular medication.

{Matzav.com}

An explosive device wrapped in an Israeli flag was found on Highway 431 in the Rishon Letzion area, leading to road closures and heave traffic in the area.

Hatzalah South Florida joins the community in mourning Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, ZT”L, esteemed Rabbi of The Shul of Bal Harbour and founder of the Aleph Institute. A visionary leader and dedicated supporter of Hatzalah South Florida, Rabbi Lipskar hosted the historic signing of Governor DeSantis’ Hatzalah bill at The Shul, transforming the region. His profound impact on South Florida and beyond will be deeply felt. YZ”B.

A woman was killed early Saturday in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki when a bomb she was carrying exploded in her hands, police said. The 38-year-old woman was apparently carrying the bomb to place outside a nearby bank around 5 a.m., police said. Several storefronts and vehicles were damaged by the explosion. Police said the woman, whom they did not publicly identify, had a criminal record and had been involved in at least one robbery and thefts in the past. The Greek police’s division for organized crime was investigating the incident, while authorities were also investigating whether the woman might have had ties to extreme leftist groups. Greece has seen occasional bombings, as well as targeted killings, attributed to various organized crime groups. The country also has a long history of politically motivated violence dating back to the 1970s, with domestic extremist groups carrying out small-scale bombings that usually cause some damage but rarely lead to injuries. While the groups most active in the 1980s and 1990s, whose preferred targets tended to be politicians, foreign businesses and diplomats, have been dismantled, new small groups have emerged. Last year, a man believed to have been trying to assemble a bomb was killed when the device he was making exploded in a central Athens apartment. A woman inside the apartment was severely injured. It was unclear what their intended target might have been. The blast had prompted Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis to warn of an emerging new generation of domestic extremists. In April, a new group calling itself Revolutionary Class Struggle claimed responsibility for a bomb that exploded in central Athens near the offices of Hellenic Train, Greece’s main railway services operator, and the planting of another bomb near the Labor Ministry in early February. The explosion near the train offices resulted in limited damage to the building and no injuries. It had been preceded by an anonymous call to local media 40 minutes before the blast warning about the device, leading police to evacuate and cordon off the area. The group that claimed responsibility said the bombing was part of an armed struggle against the state. The bombing at the train offices came shortly after the second anniversary of Greece’s worst railway disaster, in which 57 people were killed and dozens more injured when a freight train and a passenger train heading in opposite directions were accidentally put on the same track. The deadly accident sparked widespread anger and exposed severe deficiencies in Greece’s railway system, including in safety systems. Some of the relatives of the victims led mass protests against the country’s conservative government on the occasion of the accident’s second anniversary. (AP)

POTUS: “I am not saying I’ll resort to a military option to seize Greenland, but I’m not ruling anything out… We need Greenland very badly.”

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu vowed that “there will be blows” in response to the Iranian-sponsored Houthi missile assault targeting Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday.

“We are acting against them,” Netanyahu said of previous IDF military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. “We have acted in the past and we will act in the future. I cannot detail everything.

“The U.S., in coordination with us, is also acting against them. It’s not a one-and-done—but there will be blows,” vowed the Israeli premier.

In a subsequent post on his official X account, Netanyahu said Israel “will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”

Sharing a March screenshot of U.S. President Donald Trump holding the Islamic Republic responsible for Houthi attacks across the region, Netanyahu said the American leader was “absolutely right.

“Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran,” stressed the premier.

A ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck near the Jewish state’s main international airport on Sunday morning, lightly to moderately wounding six people and disrupting takeoffs and arrivals.

The attack triggered air-raid sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Shfela/Judaean Foothills. Several attempts were made to intercept the missile, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz vowed a forceful response to the Houthi attack. “Whoever harms us, we’ll harm them sevenfold,” he said.

Sunday’s attack was the latest escalation by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists, who in recent months have repeatedly launched long-range missiles and drones, targeting strategic sites such as ports and IDF bases.

Hazam al-Assad, a senior member of the terrorist group’s “political” wing, tweeted in Hebrew on Sunday afternoon, “Just as the Port of Eilat was shut down—Ben Gurion Airport will also be shut down until the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.

“Airlines would do well to avoid risking passengers and planes at an airport marked as a target,” the top terrorist added in his X post. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hamas has carried out executions of people it accuses of stealing amid escalating chaos and the erosion of public order in Gaza, according to insiders.

This week saw a sharp uptick in violence, with reports of armed groups storming warehouses and kitchens distributing food. The surge in looting has underscored the weakening of governance in Gaza. Hamas has claimed—without presenting evidence—that some of those involved were cooperating with Israel. Israeli officials have not commented on these accusations.

According to the Hamas-controlled interior ministry, one of its police officers was killed and others injured during an Israeli drone strike that occurred while they were chasing “suspected criminals” in Gaza City. The ministry promised a firm response to any disorder, continuing to place responsibility on external forces for the unrest.

Hamas media office spokesperson Ismail Al-Thawabta confirmed that executions had taken place involving those accused of robbery. He added that certain individuals were, in his words, “supported by Israel,” a frequent claim by Hamas, though no proof was offered to support this assertion.

In an effort to reassert authority, Hamas has put nightly curfews in place and deployed a 5,000-strong unit focused on clamping down on lawbreakers and opposition elements. Still, their operations have faced setbacks from Israeli drone surveillance and strikes, especially when armed forces are on the move.

The deteriorating conditions come in the wake of Israel’s offensive following the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were murdered and more than 250 taken hostage. As negotiations have stalled over further hostage releases, Israel has halted aid deliveries and enforced a blockade, citing repeated abuse of humanitarian supplies by Hamas—an accusation the group denies.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Texas will implement a $1 billion school voucher program, one of the largest in the country, that uses public dollars to fund private school tuition under a bill Gov. Greg Abbott signed Saturday, capping off a yearslong effort by Republicans. School voucher supporters have long targeted the state, where past efforts buckled for decades against resistance from Democrats and rural Republicans. Last month President Donald Trump called lawmakers before a key vote needed to finally get the bill to Abbott’s desk. Texas joins more than 30 other states that have implemented a similar program, of which about a dozen have launched or expanded their programs in recent years to make most students eligible. School vouchers have been Abbott’s primary focus this year, coming off a 2024 election cycle in which he led a campaign to oust GOP lawmakers who voted against a similar bill last session. Republican lawmakers and bill supporters say it will give parents more choice by letting them pull their children out of poor-performing public schools. “Gone are the days that families are limited to only the schools assigned by government,” Abbott said before signing the bill at the governor’s mansion. “The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school that is best for their child.” Democrats and Republicans in rural districts have criticized the program, saying it will drain financial resources from Texas’ more than 5 million public school students and subsidize the private education of wealthy families. Beginning next school year, Texas families can receive $10,000 per year to help pay for students’ private school tuition. Children with disabilities can qualify for as much as $30,000 a year. The program will be capped at $1 billion for the first year and cover up to 90,000 students but could cost up to $4.5 billion a year by 2030. (AP)

A revealing article published by New York Magazine’s Intelligencer has brought to light serious concerns from individuals close to Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., who say his recent behavior and abrupt policy changes have created what they describe as a “toxic work environment.”

The piece, titled All By Himself, presents a portrait of a Senator whose demeanor and conduct have reportedly changed significantly since he suffered a stroke in May 2022. Although Fetterman stood by his decisions and defended his voting record in the article, multiple current and former staffers suggested that the man now representing Pennsylvania in the Senate is no longer the same leader they once knew. Among the most striking revelations is an email sent by Adam Jentleson—Fetterman’s former chief of staff—to a physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “I’m worried that if John stays on his current trajectory, he won’t be with us for much longer,” Jentleson wrote, expressing alarm over Fetterman’s dietary habits, refusal to take prescribed medication, and erratic behavior. He went on to describe a pattern of “high highs and low lows,” adding that Fetterman delivers “long, rambling, repetitive and self-centered monologues” and is prone to “lying in ways that are painfully, awkwardly obvious to everyone in the room.”

Sources currently working for the Senator, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, shared their own accounts of unease. Some said they have felt unsafe around Fetterman and were warned explicitly never to ride in a car if he was behind the wheel. This concern was underscored by an incident last August when Fetterman and his wife were involved in a car crash on a Maryland freeway. Law enforcement found him to be at fault. More recently, in February, two of his senior aides—communications director Charlie Hills and legislative director Tré Easton—left their roles. The list of departures has grown so substantially that 16 former aides formed a group called “Fetterman Alumni for Peace,” created specifically to express their discontent over his rightward shift in ideology.

Fetterman’s positions on several key issues have garnered applause from conservatives and backlash from his progressive base. His firm stances on illegal immigration, energy policy, and support for Israel have stood in stark contrast to many in the Democrat Party. When President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. take administrative control of Gaza, most Democrats denounced the idea. Fetterman, however, endorsed the proposal, saying it was worth exploring and stating he would “fully support” deploying American troops to the region. Just last week, he reinforced his reputation as a foreign policy hawk by calling on the Trump administration to launch strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and abandon efforts at diplomatic engagement.

Although none of his aides directly linked his recent ideological evolution to his health struggles, they didn’t dismiss the possibility either.

On the matter of border security, Fetterman once again parted ways with many of his colleagues by attending President Trump’s signing of the Laken Riley Act. “I believe a secure border creates a more secure nation and it’s just common sense,” Fetterman said in a statement. “I believe a stronger border is fully compatible with my commitment to immigration.”

Despite his growing appeal among centrist and conservative voters, many of those closest to Fetterman view his future in national politics with hesitation. His populist appeal on hot-button issues like immigration and fracking may position him as a potential standard-bearer for the party in 2028, but insiders worry about his capacity to lead. “Part of the tragedy here is that this is a man who could be leading Democrats out of the wilderness,” Jentleson remarked. “But I also think he’s struggling in a way that shouldn’t be hidden from the public.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security officials said that Israel will respond forcefully to the Houthi ballistic missile attack that hit Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday morning, Kan News reported. In recent months, Israel has refrained from attacking Yemen at the request of the United States. An Israeli source even claimed that “every day since the start of the US operation, the American attacks are about 10 times what we can do in Yemen in a year.” But in light of the escalation in attacks from Yemen over the weekend, including four ballistic missiles and two UAVs, including the hit on Ben Gurion Airport, Israel is no longer willing to ignore the attacks. A senior Israeli official told Kan: “After the hit on Ben Gurion Airport, Israel will not have any restrictions.” “Anyone who harms us will be struck sevenfold in return,” Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said in a statement shortly after the attack. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu scheduled an urgent telephone discussion on the attack with senior government and security officials at 2:30 p.m. A change in Israel’s policy in responding to the Houthi missile attacks will be discussed during the meeting. The Houthis’ military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack on Ben Gurion Airport in a televised statement and issued a warning to international airlines that Ben-Gurion is “no longer safe for air travel.” Senior Houthi member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told the Qatari Al Araby channel that attacks will continue to increase as long as Israel continues its war on Hamas in Gaza. “We’ve proven our ability to deal blows to American, British, and Israeli prestige,” he said. “There are no red lines in our conflict with the Zionist entity, the United States, and Britain. Our strike on the Ben-Gurion airport is proof of our ability to hit fortified targets inside Israel.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The ballistic missile launched on Sunday morning by the Houthis from Yemen towards Israel evaded two layers of advanced aerial defense systems and fell in a field near Terminal 3 near Ben Gurion Airport. The first interception was carried out using an interceptor from the Israeli Arrow 3 long-range air defense, but it failed to hit the target. Another interceptor was launched from the American THAAD system. According to senior officials in Israel, the missile that hit Ben Gurion was not a new or particularly advanced missile, but a known model that has been intercepted in the past. The IDF is conducting an investigation to examine the incident, including an assessment of whether the interception failure was due to a technical malfunction or human error. According to reports, the IDF is also examining the decision not to launch a second interceptor from the Arrow system. It is possible that the decision was influenced by the high cost of each interceptor missile – about $4 million. Defense officials emphasized that the success rates of Israel’s defense systems, especially Arrow 3, are very high, but no system is successful in every scenario. The incident raises renewed questions about Israeli readiness against ballistic fire from distant sectors, especially in times of multi-arena warfare. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Elon Musk has slammed comparisons between himself and President Donald Trump to Nazis, describing the accusations as nothing more than a coordinated attempt to tarnish their reputations and derail their push to reform the federal government.

During a segment on Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump, Musk addressed a moment from President Trump’s inauguration that some critics alleged resembled a Nazi salute. Musk rejected the claim, saying the interpretation was deliberately twisted and completely false.

“Well, I mean, look, it’s a relentless propaganda campaign, which obviously President Trump has experienced for a very long time, 20 years, maybe longer,” Musk said. “And politics is a blood sport, so they’re going to come up with whatever attacks they can to destroy the public perception of someone.”

Musk has come under fire for his prominent involvement in the Trump administration, especially in his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he’s implemented sweeping changes like significant staff reductions and slashing budgets across various federal agencies.

In recent days, Democratic lawmakers have ramped up their attacks, citing both Musk’s controversial behavior during official events and his alleged impact on Germany’s recent elections. Musk rejected the Nazi analogies, calling them baseless and deeply insulting.

“Now, obviously, I’ve not harmed anyone in my life, so it’s an outrageous thing to claim that I’m a Nazi,” he said, defending both himself and President Trump from what he sees as dishonest smears.

The conversation turned to Musk’s upbringing in South Africa during the apartheid era. When Lara Trump asked how that background shaped his response to the accusations, Musk criticized the media’s influence over public opinion.

“It’s disappointing how well propaganda works,” he said. “If you repeat a lie, you know, the sort of ‘he’s a Nazi lie’ enough times, some people actually believe it, especially people that still believe the legacy news, you know.”

He added: “They really are trying every angle to get me … if they could press a button and kill me. In reality, they would press that button immediately. But since … I’m a little difficult to kill. They are doing character assassination instead.”

Although Musk has become a lightning rod for criticism, he has also received endorsements from major international figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Anti-Defamation League, who have spoken in his defense.

Speculation has been growing about Musk’s ongoing position in the Trump administration. His current government appointment is set to expire on May 30, but President Trump indicated this week that Musk will have the opportunity to continue in his post as long as he chooses.

“I do consider the president a friend. I think he considers me a friend, and we get along very well,” Musk said. “I think probably if you asked us both the same set of questions in two different rooms, 80 percent of the time, we would come up with the same answer,” he added.

“We almost always agree.”

{Matzav.com}

POTUS: “We are going to make and build a ballroom, which they’ve wanted for probably 100 years, at the White House. And it will be a world-class, beautiful ballroom.” NBC: You will fund it? POTUS: “Yeah. I’m not going to ask the government for money.”

NBC: Would you veto a cut to Medicaid? POTUS: “I would if they were cutting it but they’re not cutting it. They’re looking at fraud, waste, and abuse.”

NBC: Will you talk to Carney about making Canada a 51st state? POTUS: “I’ll always talk about that. You know why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200B a year… If Canada was a state, it would be great… It would be a cherished state.”

POTUS: “I have been investigated more than any person in the history of the United States of America… I have been investigated more than Al Capone, more than anybody… And I won.”