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Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services reported on Thursday morning that their forces have gained control of the massive fire that has been raging since Wednesday morning in the forest areas near Beit Shemesh, in the Jerusalem hills. Over a hundred firefighting teams, aided by aircraft, are still working to extinguish five remaining fires. However, all residents of three yishuvim near Beit Shemesh who were evacuated on Wednesday have been allowed to return to their homes and the roads in the area were reopened to traffic.

WATCH: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir faced a hostile reception during a visit to Yale University on Wednesday, when anti-Israel protesters threw water bottles and chanted slogans In response to the provocation, Ben-Gvir was seen making a V-sign toward the crowd, while one of his aides waved an Israeli flag defiantly before retreating indoors.

In a revelation that will send shockwaves throughout our community, it has come to light that senior members of the Conservative movement have been secretly orchestrating a campaign to sway public opinion and even influence daas Torah within the heart of the chareidi community, using deception, subterfuge, and substantial financial incentives. According to leaked WhatsApp conversations and internal correspondence obtained in an investigation by Kikar HaShabbat, high-ranking figures in the Conservative movement’s global apparatus plotted to funnel money into targeted ad campaigns, publish street posters and pashkevilim, and even offer payment in exchange for rabbinic signatures and endorsements. The goal? To undermine the Eretz HaKodesh slate and influence outcomes in the World Zionist Organization elections, all while pretending to be “insiders” in the chareidi world. The deceit has been layered and carefully crafted. Conservative officials used code names, false identities, and messaging designed to appear authentically chareidi, all to gain credibility and push their anti-Zionist messaging into the streets of Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim, and the United States. The newly uncovered materials reveal a calculated effort to mask their involvement at every step, with instructions to campaigners to “never reveal the client” and to fabricate identities, such as falsely claiming to be “former talmidim of Rav Landau seeking to protect his honor.”  The Secret WhatsApp Group of Senior Conservative Officials The attempts by the Conservative movement to meddle in the chareidi public are now fully exposed. Kikar HaShabbat’s earlier investigation that sparked widespread outrage in Israel and abroad, the news outlet has now revealed the full WhatsApp exchanges behind the campaign led by a senior representative of the Conservative movement and his assistant. They sought to run a major campaign within the chareidi world, both in Israel and the United States, involving themselves in every detail, while continuously hiding their involvement and covering their tracks. As was reported, the Merkaz Olami the non-for-profit arm of the Conservative movement funded the entire campaign of posters plastered throughout chareidi neighborhoods attacking those who were participating in the World Zionist Organization. The organization and its representatives declined to comment—but did not deny the report. Now, Kikar HaShabbat has revealed another chapter: explosive WhatsApp exchanges within a group chat involving Yizhar Hess, a senior Conservative figure who serves as Deputy Chair of the World Zionist Organization, and his chief of staff, Eyal Ostrinsky, a former Labor party member known as the mastermind behind many progressive campaigns in Zionist institutions. In the chats, they covertly coordinate every part of the campaign. At the same time, Hess tweets publicly about his supposed partnership and unity with Chareidim, while behind the scenes he directs a targeted smear campaign, planting posters and pashkevilim against them to manipulate their opionion right in their own neighborhoods. “When you get a personal flyer in front of your home, and the neighbors see it, it’s more effective,” he says. In the WhatsApp exchanges, the deep and direct involvement of Hess and Ostrinsky as the masterminds of the misleading proganda against Eretz HaKodesh and its suporters is clearly visible, utilizing street ads, pashkevilim, social media posts, and even ad placement in American chareidi publications under disguised funding sources. From the messages, it’s clear that not only did the money come directly from the Conservative movement, but Hess and Ostrinsky were personally involved in writing […]

Israel came to a standstill on Thursday morning as a two-minute siren sounded nationwide at 10 a.m., marking Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Pedestrians stood still, drivers exited vehicles and public transportation halted in a powerful display of collective memory for the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem as part of the official state commemoration. The event honored Holocaust martyrs and heroes, and was attended by top government officials, dignitaries, and Holocaust survivors.

Established in 1951, Yom Hashoah is observed annually on the 27th of Nissan. The siren tradition began in the 1960s and has become one of Israel’s most solemn national rituals, uniting the country in remembrance and reflection.

“We bow our heads in memory of the victims,” Netanyahu said during the ceremony. “Their legacy obligates us to defend our existence and ensure never again means never again.”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu lays a wreath at Yad Vashem. Photo by Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO).

Public ceremonies, educational programs, and survivor testimonies are taking place throughout the day across Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. JNS

{Matzav.com Israel}

Americans’ trust in President Donald Trump to bolster the U.S. economy appears to be faltering, with a new poll showing that many people fear the country is being steered into a recession and that the president’s broad and haphazardly enforced tariffs will cause prices to rise. Roughly half of U.S. adults say that Trump’s trade policies will increase prices “a lot” and another 3 in 10 think prices could go up “somewhat,” according to the poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the possibility of the U.S. economy going into a recession in the next few months. While skepticism about tariffs is increasing modestly, that doesn’t mean the public is automatically rejecting Trump or his approach to trade. However, the wariness could cause problems for a president who promised voters he could quickly fix inflation. Trump shows vulnerability on the economy Three months into his second term, Trump’s handling of the economy and tariffs is showing up as a potential weakness. About 4 in 10 Americans approve of the way the Republican president is handling the economy and trade negotiations. That’s roughly in line with an AP-NORC poll conducted in March. Matthew Wood, 41, said he’s waiting to see how the tariffs play out, but he’s feeling anxious. “I’m not a huge fan of it, especially considering China and going back and forth with adjustments on both ends,” said Wood, who lives in West Liberty, Kentucky, and is unemployed. “Personally, it hasn’t affected me as of yet. But, generally, I don’t know how this is going to come to an end, especially with the big countries involved.” Still, Wood said he changed his registration from Republican to independent, having been turned off by Trump’s attitude and deference to billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Wood voted for Trump last year and said he’s willing to give the president until the end of the year to deliver positive results on tariffs. About half of U.S. adults, 52%, are against imposing tariffs on all goods brought into the U.S. from other countries. That’s up slightly from January, when a poll found that 46% were against tariffs. Driving that small shift largely appears to be adults under age 30 who didn’t previously have an opinion on tariffs. Trump supporter Janice Manis, 63, said her only criticism of Trump on tariffs is that he put in a partial 90-day pause for trade negotiations with other countries. “Actually, I think he shouldn’t have suspended it,” said Manis, a retired sheriff’s deputy from Del Rio, Texas. “Because now China is trying to manipulate all of these other countries to go against us, whereas if he would have left all the tariffs in play then these countries would be hit hard. But, oh, well, things happen.” Skepticism remains about Trump’s tariff approach Not quite 100 days into Trump’s second term in the White House, people around the country are bracing for possible disruptions in how they spend, work and live. The U.S. economy remains solid for the moment with moderating inflation and a healthy 4.2% unemployment rate, yet measures such as consumer confidence have dropped sharply. Trump has used executive actions to remold the global economy. He’s imposed hundreds of billions of dollars a year in new import taxes — albeit partially suspending some of […]

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Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, was taken to Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center early Thursday morning after suffering a fall at his home during the night.

The incident occurred at his residence on Rechov HaRav Sher in Bnei Brak. The rosh yeshiva experienced significant pain following the fall, raising concerns that he may have sustained a fracture.

Due to the incident, Rav Landau was unable to attend Shacharis at the yeshiva this morning.

Upon his arrival at the hospital, a series of tests and imaging were conducted, and the rosh yeshiva remains under observation for the time being.

All are asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Ephraim Dov ben Devorah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a stirring asifa held at Binyanei HaUma in Yerushalayim, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a heartfelt message of chizuk, warning against efforts in today’s society to dismantle the Torah world.

The annual gathering was organized by a leading kiruv organization and was attended by prominent roshei yeshiva, rabbanim, and mekarvim.

“We are living in a time when kofrim (heretics) — not Amaleik, chas v’shalom — but heretics nonetheless, are working to uproot Torah from Klal Yisroel entirely,” Rav Hirsch declared. “They want a reality in which Torah no longer exists within Klal Yisroel, in Eretz Yisroel, and in the world of Torah learning.”

He began his remarks by quoting the Malbim, who explained that Amaleik’s power emerged during a period of rifyon in Torah. That spiritual weakness in learning led to a broader weakening of emunah, creating the conditions that allowed Amaleik’s force of kefirah to strike.

“Amaleik,” Rav Hirsch explained, “represents the force of denial. Reishis goyim Amaleik—he is the beginning of rebellion. When faith within Klal Yisroel diminishes, that opens the door for Amaleik’s influence. Torah learning strengthens malchus Shamayim, it increases kavod Shamayim—and when Hashem’s presence is more felt in this world, emunah naturally increases.”

He elaborated that even when a person doesn’t see Hashem clearly, the inner hargashah created through Torah learning plants the seed of belief. “When there’s more kavod Shamayim, there’s more emunah in the world,” he said. “And that is the greatest thing, especially in our generation.”

Rav Hirsch emphasized to those involved in kiruv and strengthening Torah that their very efforts elevate kavod Shamayim, regardless of visible results. “Even if you think you didn’t succeed with someone, just the fact that you tried is already a success! That action itself brings kavod Shamayim, and that generates emunah.”

He returned to his central concern: “Today, there are heretics who are trying to destroy Torah! Not Amaleik, chas v’shalom, but deniers who want Torah to disappear entirely from Klal Yisroel, from Eretz Yisroel, and from the olam haTorah. But it is precisely through Torah learning and your efforts that this force will be weakened. It will diminish the strength of those who oppose us and empower us to continue learning with hasmadah, with depth, and to bring more and more kavod Shamayim.”

Rav Hirsch concluded with a hopeful message: “And through increasing kavod Shamayim, we will merit more emunah, and ultimately, this will lead to teshuvah sheleimah for all of Klal Yisroel. And through that, we will surely see the geulah sheleimah speedily in our days. Amein.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Russia attacked Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 70 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July and just as peace efforts are coming to a head. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack he is cutting short his official trip to South Africa and returning home as the city reeled from the bombardment that kept residents on edge for about 11 hours. It appeared to be Russia’s biggest attack on Kyiv in nine months, and Zelenskyy branded it as “one of (Russia’s) most outrageous.” Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced that Friday would be an official day of mourning day in the capital. The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine. Rescue workers with flashlights scoured the charred rubble of partly collapsed homes as the blue lights of emergency vehicles lit up the dark city streets. The attack came as weeks of peace negotiations appeared to be culminating without an agreement in sight and hours after U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Zelenskyy, accusing him of prolonging the “killing field” by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula as part of a possible deal. Zelenskyy says future of negotiations depends on Moscow Zelenskyy has repeated many times during the more than three-year war that recognizing occupied territory as Russian is a red line for his country. He noted Thursday that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal 44 days ago, as a first step to a negotiated peace, but that Russia’s attacks had continued. He said in South Africa that the latest attack meant the future of negotiations “depends on Russia’s intention because it is in Moscow where they have to make a decision.” While talks have been going on in recent weeks, Russia has hit the city of Sumy, killing more than 30 civilians gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, battered Odesa with drones and blasted Zaporizhzhia with powerful glide bombs. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the attack underscored that the main obstacle to ending the war is Russia. “While claiming to seek peace, Russia launched a deadly airstrike on Kyiv,” she wrote on social media. “This isn’t a pursuit of peace, it’s a mockery of it.” Senior U.S. officials have warned that the Trump administration could soon give up its efforts to stop the war if the two sides don’t compromise. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attack showed Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to press his bigger army’s advantage on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where it currently holds the momentum. “Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war,” Sybiha said on X. “Weakness and concessions will not stop his terror and aggression. Only strength and pressure will.” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of its neighbor, Russian attacks haves killed some 13,000 civilians, including 618 children. Kyiv residents spent the night in shelters At least 42 people were hospitalized following the attack on residential suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said. At a Kyiv residential building that was almost […]

In a ruling handed down by the Lod District Court, the Belzer chassidus has been ordered to pay NIS 24 million in damages to nine former students who were subjected to abuse at its Talmud Torah in Tel Aviv.

Judge Zvi Weitzman ruled that both the institution and its mechanchim must compensate the students, who suffered both physical and emotional mistreatment while enrolled at the school. At the time of the abuse, the boys were between the ages of three and ten.

According to the verdict, the leadership of the Talmud Torah disregarded multiple complaints raised by parents and even fellow staff members about mechanchim who engaged in abusive behavior. In some isolated instances, disciplinary action was taken, but in most cases, the complaints were ignored until the matter became the subject of a police investigation.

The court rejected Belz’s claim that the school was under the jurisdiction of the Chinuch Atzmai network and determined that the Belz community itself operated the institution. As such, it was found directly responsible for the abuse and is liable for compensating the victims.

“לעולם אין להרים יד על תלמיד,” the judge wrote. “One must never raise a hand against a student.”

Details of the case, which were first revealed by Ynet, describe horrific punishment methods allegedly used by certain educators. The children were reportedly subjected to public humiliation, beatings in front of their classmates, being force-fed hot pepper, restrained with zip ties, locked in rooms, kicked, struck with rulers, scissors, and knives, and endured extreme psychological torment.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens was expected grow Thursday, with smoke affecting the air quality in the New York City area before rain arrives this week, authorities said. Higher-than-normal pollution levels were expected Thursday in New York City, Rockland and Westchester counties, and in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advised Wednesday. The fire is roughly 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of New York City. It said “going indoors may reduce exposure” to problems such as eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. The fire in the southern part of New Jersey has grown to more than 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) and could continue to burn for days, officials said. No one has been injured so far in the blaze, and 5,000 residents were evacuated but have been permitted to return home. A single commercial building and some vehicles were destroyed in the fire, while 12 structures remained threatened Wednesday evening. “This is still a very active fire,” said New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. “As we continue to get this under full control the expectation is that the number of acres will grow and will grow in a place that is unpopulated.” The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey also cautioned early Thursday about air quality, saying “smoke will continue to permeate the area.” It said emergency personnel will be on site for the next few days. In New York, dry conditions across the state are resulting in a “high” fire danger rating in several regions including New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and portions of the North Country, the state air quality advisory said. The rest of the state is at a moderate or low level of fire danger. Officials said the fire is believed to be the second-worst in the last two decades, smaller only than a 2007 blaze that burned 26 square miles (67 square kilometers). Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency Wednesday and officials said they’ve contained about 50% of the wildfire. Video released by the state agency overseeing the fire service showed billowing white and black clouds of smoke, intense flames engulfing pines and firefighters dousing a charred structure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said. Forest fires are a common occurrence in the Pine Barrens, a 1.1 million-acre (445,000-hectare) state and federally protected reserve about the size of the Grand Canyon lying halfway between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east. The region, with its quick-draining sandy soil, is in peak forest fire season. The trees are still developing leaves, humidity remains low and winds can kick up, drying out the forest floor. The area had been under a severe drought until recently. (AP)

At the state ceremony held Wednesday evening at Yad Vashem to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israeli President Isaac Herzog used his address to issue a heartfelt call for unity, warning that the internal fractures within Israeli society are becoming dangerously deep. “I call upon you from the bottom of my heart: Let us unite together, the entire House of Israel,” Herzog implored. “Let us turn these days – the Ten Holy Days – from now until Independence Day, into a moment of National responsibility. Let us lower the flames. Let us mend our hearts.”

Herzog described his frequent interactions with Holocaust survivors, many of whom share painful memories. Despite the trauma, their messages always center around a plea for harmony. “President, please, we beg, we demand — the division within us is terrible. Let there be unity in the people,” he quoted them as saying.

The president also issued a stark warning to those he believes are contributing to the unraveling of the nation from within. “History will not forgive those who behave irresponsibly and dismantle us from within,” Herzog declared. “We must not allow the poison of social media, and the experts in smearing and polarization, to take over the soul of the people and destroy us from within.”

His speech was delivered against the backdrop of escalating domestic tensions fueled by prolonged conflict and divisive judicial reforms, which have drawn widespread protests and criticism for allegedly eroding democratic foundations.

This year’s memorial service marked 80 years since the Holocaust ended, commemorating the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. The theme, “Out of the Depths: The Anguish of Liberation and Rebirth,” guided the ceremony.

Referencing the atrocities of October 7, Herzog noted that while no tragedy can equal the Holocaust in scope and systematic cruelty, the echoes of horror experienced on that day are hard to ignore. “It’s impossible not to be exposed to the terrifying testimonies from the heart of the horror on October 7… and not be shocked by the echoes of that historical catastrophe.”

Nonetheless, Herzog expressed a sense of collective triumph in the continued existence and resilience of the Jewish people. “I talk to [survivors] and am exposed to incomprehensible life stories. And suddenly I find myself saying – sometimes silently – to myself, sometimes aloud – to them: Here – you won. Here – we won.”

Following Herzog’s speech, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the crowd, comparing the Hamas terror organization to the Nazi regime and pledging to bring back those held hostage in Gaza. “Indeed, They are exactly like the Nazis, just like Hitler,” Netanyahu stated. “They wish to kill and destroy all of the Jews, and they openly declare their intention to destroy the state of the Jews. They say so out loud, but it’s not going to happen. We are determined to annihilate the monsters of Hamas, these monsters who committed the worst massacre that we’ve experienced since the Holocaust.”

Netanyahu defended his government’s actions, pointing to last year’s operation in Rafah as an example of Israeli resolve in the face of international pressure. “Exactly a year ago, I stood in this very same place, and I spoke adamantly against those elements in the international community who sought to tie our hands. They warned us that if we enter Rafah, they will impose an arms embargo on Israel,” he said. “I said that, as the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, no one will prevent us from defending ourselves. No one will tie our hands. If we need to stand alone, we shall stand alone.”

He contrasted the helplessness Jews experienced during the Holocaust with today’s strong, independent Jewish state. “During the Holocaust, we were like dust carried away by the wind,” he said. “Today, we have a powerful force that protects us, respected by the whole world. We have a country, we have an army, we have security forces.”

“We will never surrender,” Netanyahu asserted. “Victory demands resilience. Thanks to the resilience and unity of all of the citizens of Israel, we have already achieved great achievements, and we will achieve further achievements until victory comes.”

Netanyahu reflected on a recent visit to Hungary, where he and his wife stood at the Shoes on the Danube memorial. “What a terrible sight, what a terrible monument,” he said. “My wife and I looked away momentarily to the stickers with the images of our heroes, from the reminders of the Holocaust to the Israeli flags and the yellow ribbons demonstrating to the whole world our commitment to bring back all of our hostages.”

Reaffirming his determination, Netanyahu added: “We will bring back all the hostages. We will triumph over Hamas, and we will prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons. We will fight the zealot regimes threatening the entire world, we shall fight forcefully against those regimes threatening the whole world, and to do so on time. That is the main lesson learned from the Holocaust.”

He described the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions as a danger not only to Israel, but to all of humanity. “The struggle between us and the terror empire in Tehran will decide the fate of all free societies.”

“If Israel, God forbid, loses this campaign, the Western countries will be next in line,” Netanyahu warned. “The tide of fanaticism will overtake them, and it will happen much faster than they think. But Israel will not lose. Israel will not give up. Israel will not surrender.”

Due to a security matter, Netanyahu arrived late to the ceremony. Initially, organizers considered delaying the start to wait for him, but the decision was made to proceed on schedule. Other officials, including Shin Bet head Ronen Bar — recently at the center of controversy following Netanyahu’s push for his dismissal — were present on time.

On the eve of the event, Netanyahu and his wife met with the survivors selected to light the memorial torches. “Your personal stories are incredibly moving — and they are also our collective stories,” Netanyahu told them, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, Netanyahu referenced a historic debate between British historian Arnold Toynbee and Ambassador Yaakov Herzog, uncle of the current president. Herzog challenged Toynbee’s assertion that the Jewish people were merely a relic of the past. “We are not a fossil. We possess a life force… a great life force that allowed us to overcome the most terrible events in the history of humanity and to return and rebuild our land and our state,” said the prime minister.

He spoke admiringly of young Israeli soldiers he has met during visits to conflict zones. “This generation—your descendants, your grandchildren and great-grandchildren—is simply extraordinary,” he said. “They know they are fighting for our future and the survival of our people… They are ready to fight with immense power.”

“I don’t want people to love us,” Netanyahu added. “I’d be glad if they did, but that’s not my goal. I want them to respect us. Nations may hate one another — but they don’t attack each other if there’s mutual respect. If you are strong enough, you are respected. If you are weak, they may love you — and still destroy you. That’s what they did to the Jews. They eulogized us,” he concluded.

Six survivors were selected to ignite torches in memory of the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.

Arie Durst, born in 1933 in Lwów, survived by assuming false identities and narrowly escaping death numerous times. After the war, he made aliyah, became a trailblazing IDF doctor, and was instrumental in establishing Israel’s transplant system, leading efforts that inspired the creation of the Adi organization.

Monika Barzel, a Berlin native born in 1937, lived through Nazi bombings, illness, and the loss of her grandmother. She narrowly avoided deportation to Auschwitz while in a Jewish children’s hospital. Following the war, she rebuilt her life, became a dentist, and later settled in Israel, where she continued serving the public for many years.

Felix Sorin, born in 1932 in what is now Belarus, endured life in the Minsk Ghetto, fled alone, and passed as a non-Jewish orphan until liberation. Reuniting with surviving family, he pursued a career in research and education, eventually immigrating to Israel to continue sharing his story.

Rachel Katz was born in Antwerp in 1937. After her father was killed in Auschwitz, she and her family hid with the help of courageous locals and resistance members. She moved to Israel post-war and became a leading figure advocating for Holocaust survivors’ welfare and rights.

Arie Reiter, born in 1929 in Romania, experienced the horrors of forced labor and later joined Zionist youth efforts. After helping his brothers settle in Israel, he joined them in 1951 and built a career in finance while spearheading community initiatives in Be’er Sheva.

Gad Fartouk, born in Tunisia in 1931, survived Nazi persecution after his mother’s death, hiding and enduring hardship. He later joined a Zionist youth group, made aliyah, fought with the Palmach, co-founded a kibbutz, and became a successful photographer. He offered a heartfelt prayer for the hostages before lighting his torch.

Eva Erben spoke on behalf of the survivor community. Deported to Theresienstadt and later Auschwitz, she survived by assuming an older age and being separated from her mother. After forced labor and a death march, she was rescued by a compassionate Czech couple. Erben went on to become a nurse, marry a fellow survivor, and share her testimony worldwide.

Yehuda Hauptman recited the traditional El Maleh Rachamim prayer in memory of those murdered. Born in 1938 in Slovakia, Hauptman’s family fled to Hungary, surviving ghettoization and his father’s forced labor. After the war, he and his sister were taken to Austria and then brought to Israel. He served in the IDF and later settled in Moshav Tkuma, remaining steadfastly connected to the land even after being evacuated during the October 7 attacks.

National remembrance events continued today with a two-minute siren at 10:00 a.m., pausing daily life across the country. Yad Vashem will remain open for a series of commemorations, with additional ceremonies being held throughout the day, culminating in an 8:00 p.m. memorial at the Ghetto Fighters’ House.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa told a US congressman that he is interested in normalizing relations with Israel, Bloomberg New reported. Al-Sharaa conveyed the remarks to Republican Congressman Cory Mills, while setting conditions for the move, which were not detailed in the report. Mills and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)  traveled to Syria on Friday on an unofficial visit arranged by the US-based nonprofit Syrian-American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, which is lobbying the US government to lift the sanctions imposed on the former Syrian regime. The two US lawmakers, the first to visit Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, held talks with Al-Sharaa about economic sanctions and peace between Syria and Israel. Mills gave A-Sharaa a letter from President Trump detailing US concerns about the new regime. “I am cautiously optimistic and look to maintain open dialogue,” Mills told Bloomberg, adding that Al-Sharaa wrote a letter to Trump in return. Mills spoke with Al-Sharaa about the Trump administration’s conditions for the sanctions to be lifted, including the destruction of any chemical weapons left in the country from the Assad regime and Syria’s coordination with counterterrorism initiatives with US allies. Syria would also be required to provide assurances to Israel, which is highly distrustful of Al-Shaara and is opposed to the US relief of sanctions. The congressman confirmed the remarks in a conversation with the media and said that Syria wants to be a good neighbor and maintain relations with Israel. “They share a border with each other, it’s important that Israel and Syria have strong relations,” the congressman said. “I think Al-Shaara and his government have proven their willingness to work with Israel and prevent weapons from being transferred out through Syria and into Lebanon.” “Al-Sharaa was very clear that he is looking to establish and maintain a strong relationship with Israel, that he wants to be a good neighbor, and therefore I think this is very encouraging, for the American people, and for Trump who established the historic and monumental Abraham Accords,” Mills said. According to the report, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are willing to help Syria financially, but are currently blocked from doing so due to the US sanctions. Mill’s visit came days after the US began to withdraw hundreds of its troops from Syria. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

China has launched three astronauts into space to replace the crew on the Chinese Tiangong space station, marking a further step in the country’s ambitions for a crewed mission to the Moon and explore Mars. The Shenzhou 20 spaceship took off as planned atop China’s workhorse Long March 2F rocket at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT). It will reach the Tiangong about 6.5 hours later. The rocket lifted off from the launch center in Jiuquan, on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China. The spaceship will remain in space before returning the current crew. The Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” space station has made China a major contender in space, especially since it was entirely Chinese-built after the country was excluded from the International Space Station over U.S. national security concerns. China’s space program is controlled by the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. The addition of mechanical arms to the three-module station has also raised concerns from some that China could use them to disable satellites or other space vehicles during a crisis. Since first launching a man into space in 2003 — becoming only the third country to do so — China’s space program has advanced at a steady pace. The space agency has also landed an explorer on Mars and a rover on the less-explored far side of the Moon, and aims to put a person on the Moon before 2030. The Shenzhou, or “Celestial Vessel,” 20 mission will be commanded by Chen Dong, who is making his third flight. He will be accompanied by fighter pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie, both making their maiden voyages, according to the China Manned Space Agency. Unlike previous crews, Shenzhou 20 is entirely male. They will replace three astronauts currently on the Chinese space station. Like those before them, they will stay on board for roughly six months. The space ship is due to be launched into space atop China’s workhorse Long March 2F rocket at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT) and reach the Tiangong about 6.5 hours later. The three-person crew was sent in October last year and they have been in space for 175 days. They are due to return on April 29 after a brief overlap with their replacements. The Tiangong, fully assembled in October 2022, can accommodate up to six people at a time. While in space, the astronauts will conduct experiments in medical science and new technologies and perform space walks to carry out maintenance and install new equipment, the Manned Space Agency said. (AP)

In a rare and stirring display, live sheep were brought into the main Bobov beis medrash in Boro Park this Chol Hamoed Pesach for a special ceremony marking the completion of Maseches Chullin by the Kinyan Torah chaburah. The centerpiece of the event was the presentation of matanos kehunah—gifts from slaughtered animals that are halachically given to kohanim—a mitzvah rarely fulfilled in modern times.

The event drew a massive crowd, so large that many attendees had to watch from an adjacent hall via live feed.

A specially constructed platform was erected in the center of the beis medrash so that all present could witness the unique proceedings.

The Bobov choir, under the direction of Reb Mordechai Wolf Landau, added a melodic backdrop to the event.

rav Aharon Zuberman, maggid shiur of the Kinyan Torah chaburah, offered a detailed and articulate explanation of each halachic step involved in the ritual, clarifying the significance and legal intricacies of the process.

The honor of presenting the reishis hagez—the first shearings of wool, one of the matanos kehunah—was given to Rav Chaim Dovid Bloom, a mashpia in the chassidus. He handed the gift to Rav Menachem Mendel HaKohen Katz, av beis din of Raslawitz in Boro Park, who graciously received the gifts, offered words of bracha, and recited Birchas Kohanim for the assembled.

Two prominent philanthropists, Rabbi Avrohom Aharon Lazar and Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Rieger, served as representatives of the thousands of participants in the learning program and presented the additional gifts—zeroa, lechayayim, and keiva—to a group of kohanim: Rav Dovid Yehoshua HaKohen Rosengarten, Rav Ben Zion Kadrat, and Rav Avrohom Mordechai Grodzinsky, all distinguished members of the Bobover kehillah.

Later, the Bobover Rebbe led a festive tish in honor of Chol Hamoed and the siyum of Maseches Chullin, attended by thousands of chassidim. The guest speaker was Rav Yitzchok Wolpin, a noted mashpia in the Karlin-Stolin community and a rosh mesivta at Yeshivas Kedushas Tzion in Bobov.

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has formally submitted referrals to the Department of Justice against two individuals she says unlawfully disclosed classified information to media outlets, as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to clamp down on leaks across federal departments.

According to Gabbard, 44, one of the suspected individuals is responsible for providing classified material to the Washington Post, while the second allegedly gave sensitive documents to the New York Times.

“A third criminal referral is on its way,” Gabbard said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that this third person is believed to have also funneled classified content to the Washington Post without authorization.

While the exact nature of the leaks has not yet been made public, Gabbard’s actions are being interpreted as a clear message to others within the government who may consider releasing sensitive data to journalists.

Investigations into internal leaks are also gaining momentum at the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, where some leaders are reportedly weighing the use of lie detector tests to identify those responsible.

“Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation’s security at risk and must end,” Gabbard said in a statement. “Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

“I look forward to working with the Justice Department and FBI to investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals.”

Gabbard stated that those behind the leaks are attempting to sabotage President Trump’s policies and hinder his administration’s national security initiatives.

Whether or not charges will ultimately be brought against the accused individuals remains a decision for the Department of Justice.

Earlier this month, Gabbard launched a new internal unit called the Director’s Initiative Group, which is tasked with increasing transparency within the intelligence sector. A key part of the group’s responsibility is targeting the unauthorized release of classified materials.

In recent weeks, Gabbard came under fire from lawmakers on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees following revelations about a Signal messaging group she was part of that had been exposed in a leak.

The Signal chat had reportedly been established by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who unintentionally added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the group.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that U.S. forces launched airstrikes against Houthi targets in mid-March.

{Matzav.com}

China on Thursday denied U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that the two sides were involved in active negotiations over tariffs, saying that any suggestion of progress in this matter was as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.” China’s comments come after Trump said Tuesday that the final tariff rate on China’s exports would come down “substantially” from the current 145%. “China’s position is consistent and we are open to consultations and dialogues, but any form of consultations and negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and in an equal manner,” said Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong. “Any claims about the progress of China-U.S. trade negotiations are groundless as trying to catch the wind and have no factual basis.” Trump had told reporters earlier in the week that “everything’s active” when asked if he was engaging with China, although his Treasury Secretary had said there were no formal negotiations. Trump had put 145% tariffs on imports from China, while China hit back with 125% tariffs on U.S. products. While Trump has given other countries a 90-day pause on the tariffs, as their leaders pledged to negotiate with the U.S., China remained the exception. Instead, Beijing raised its own tariffs and deployed other economic measures in response while vowing to “fight to the end.” For example, China restricted exports of rare earth minerals and raised multiple cases against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization. China also made it clear that talks should involve the cancellation of all tariffs it currently faces. “The unilateral tariff increase measures were initiated by the United States. If the United States really wants to solve the problem, it should face up to the rational voices of the international community and all parties at home, completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China, and find ways to resolve differences through equal dialogue,” said He, the spokesman. Despite the economic measures leveled against China, Trump said Tuesday that he would be “very nice” and not play hardball with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We’re going to live together very happily and ideally work together,” Trump said. (AP)

Whether the threat was abusive Hamas guards, hunger, illness or Israeli strikes, there were moments during Tal Shoham’s 505 days of captivity in Gaza when he didn’t think he’d be alive the next morning. There were “many times that I separated from life and … tried to accept death,” the 40-year-old Israeli, who also holds Austrian citizenship, told The Associated Press. “There are so many ways to die there.” Shoham was one of dozens of hostages released from Gaza in February as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that has since been broken. His wife, two children and three other family members were also kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and were freed a month later. Shoham said he spent half his captivity in apartments and the rest in underground tunnels. He was sometimes bound, starved, beaten and threatened with death, and initially didn’t know if his family was alive. After his wife was released, Shoham said, someone identifying himself as a member of Hamas called to warn her not to talk about what she’d been through or they’d kill her husband. So as he recounted his own experience, Shoham said there were details he wouldn’t discuss, fearful of endangering remaining hostages. Shoham was kidnapped while visiting relatives in Kibbutz Be’eri. When Hamas attacked, he and his family hid in a safe room meant to offer protection from incoming rockets. But as the terrorists pried open a window and used explosives to try to break in, the family surrendered, a decision Shoham credits with saving their lives. Shoham was thrown into the back of a vehicle and taken into Gaza, not knowing what happened to his wife or children. Be’eri was among the hardest-hit communities that day. Before being separated, Shoham recalled telling his now 9-year-old son that he didn’t know if they were going to die. “I didn’t want him to hear a lie from me, if it’s the last minutes of our life,” he said. Upon entering Gaza, a terrorist jumped on the car’s roof, pointed his gun at Shoham and told him to kneel. But Shoham refused, not wanting to be killed on their terms, he said. He said the terrorist had “murder in his eyes.” Shoham was first taken to an apartment that his captors said was in northern Gaza. He spent weeks there, handcuffed and confined to a room. About a month later, he was moved to another apartment and joined by Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, hostages he would spend most of his captivity with. The two men were abducted from a music festival in southern Israel where at least 364 people were killed and dozens more taken hostage. Hearing about the conditions of their captivity made Shoham feel lucky about his own. They’d been kept in more uncomfortable zip-tie handcuffs, with plastic bags on their heads, he said, and fed one pita per day. The three lived in that apartment for months, where they endured daily beatings. Guards would taunt and humiliate them, asking how the music festival was and making shooting noises, Shoham said. Forbidden by their captors from speaking, they got to know each other through furtive whispers. To humanize himself in the eyes of his captors, and hopefully make them less likely to kill him, Shoham learned Arabic […]

South Korean prosecutors indicted former liberal President Moon Jae-in on bribery charges Thursday, saying that a budget airline gave his son-in-law a lucrative no-show job during Moon’s term in office. Moon’s indictment adds him to a long list of South Korean leaders who have faced trials or scandals at the close of their terms or after leaving office. Prosecutors allege that Moon, who served as president from 2017-2022, received bribes totaling 217 million won ($151,705) from Lee Sang-jik, founder of the budget carrier Thai Eastar Jet, in the form of wages, housing expenses and other financial assistance provided to Moon’s then-son-in-law from 2018-2020. South Korean media reported that Moon’s daughter and her husband were divorced in 2021. The Jeonju District Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement that Lee was also indicted on charges of paying bribes to Moon and committing breaches of trust. The prosecutors’ office said Moon’s former son-in-law was hired as a director-level employee at Lee’s company in Thailand even though he had no work experience in the airline industry. The office said he spent only brief periods at the company’s office in Thailand and carried out only minor duties while claiming to be working remotely from South Korea. The prosecutors’ office said it had not found evidence that Moon directly performed political favors for Lee, but that Lee, who worked on Moon’s campaign, likely expected his assistance to be repaid. Lee was later named the head of the state-funded Korea SME and Startups Agency and was nominated by Moon’s party to run for parliament while Moon was in office. A former Moon aide on personnel affairs was earlier indicted over Lee’s agency job appointment, but prosecutors said she refused to testify during questioning so they were unable to find any direct evidence that Moon helped Lee win that position. Moon’s indictment comes before South Korea elects a new president on June 3 to succeed conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over an ill-fated imposition of martial law in December. Yoon, a former top prosecutor, now stands a criminal trial on rebellion charges connection with his martial law decree. It’s unclear if Moon’s indictment will influence prospects for liberals to win back the presidency. But observers say liberal presidential aspirant Lee Jae-myung is heavily favored to win the vote as conservatives remain in disarray over Yoon’s ouster, although Lee also faces criminal trials on allegations of corruption and other charges. There was no immediate response from Moon. But his political allies at the main liberal opposition Democratic Party criticized the indictment, calling it a politically motivated attempt by Yoon supporters at the prosecution service to humiliate the former liberal leader ahead of the election. Youn Kun-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker who worked at Moon’s presidential office, accused prosecutors of trying to divert attention from Yoon’s “tragic end” by putting Moon on trial to influence the election outcome. A Democratic Party committee separately warned it would hold the prosecution service to account for its indictment. Most past South Korean presidents have been embroiled in scandal in the final months of their terms or after leaving office. In 2017, Park Geun-hye, South Korea’s first female president, was removed from office and arrested over an explosive corruption scandal. Park’s conservative predecessor Lee Myung-bak was also arrested on a range […]