Feed aggregator

In the wake of horrific attacks against American Jews, the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center — the public policy arm of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America — is calling on Congress to significantly increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), stating that a House Subcommittee’s proposal of $305 million for FY2026 is “a far cry from what is needed in the face of exploding antisemitism.” “The pro-Hamas calls to ‘globalize the Intifada’ have arrived in America,” said Nathan Diament, Executive Director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center. “Jewish communities are facing a real crisis with a real set of threats, and Congress must respond with real action.” The Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process for the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the NSGP, kicks off in earnest later today with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security marking up their initial version of the DHS funding bill for FY2026. The Subcommittee’s draft text proposes $305 million for NSGP. But OU Advocacy views the NSGP as severely underfunded, despite skyrocketing antisemitism. In 2023, the program received 5,257 applications for $679 million in funding, but only 42% were approved. In 2024, more than 7,500 organizations applied for nearly $1 billion in grants, but less than half, $454.5 million, was distributed. “Every synagogue, school, and community center denied funding is left vulnerable,” said Diament. “Thoughts and prayers are not going to protect us. It’s time for Congress to step up with the resources needed to keep our communities safe.” The OU Advocacy is urging Congress to appropriate $500 million for the NSGP in FY2026 — a bipartisan recommendation already endorsed by more than 130 House members and 33 U.S. Senators. The organization is also calling for additional DOJ funding to bolster local police patrols at faith-based institutions and the immediate passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act.

United Airlines has—for the second time—resumed flights to Israel shortly after a lawsuit was filed against the fourth-largest domestic carrier, seeking internal documents about how and why it opted to halt flights to the Jewish state.

On May 30, the National Center for Public Policy Research filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, demanding access to the Chicago-based, Delaware-incorporated airline’s records to see if it violated its fiduciary duties to shareholders by giving in to calls from its anti-Israel union to boycott the Jewish state.

The conservative think tank owns 123 United shares worth about $10,350.

The suit also seeks information about whether United colluded illegally with its partner, Turkish Airlines. “Turkish Airlines, a key Star Alliance partner of United, is partially controlled by the Turkish government, which has publicly called for and engages in a boycott of Israel,” per the complaint.

Anat Beck, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told JNS that “Israel is about 2% of their market share, and they hid it in their financial statements—how much it’s hurting.” Securities laws require the airline to disclose the financial impact of its decisions, she said.

Before the Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the airline operated 28 weekly flights to Tel Aviv—more than any other U.S. carrier. It suspended such flights on Oct. 7, and as of April 2025, it has “resumed only 14 weekly flights—a 50% reduction,” per the complaint. “United’s own 8-K filings and quarterly earnings reports confirm that this suspension resulted in a material decline in earnings, including an estimated $0.15 per share in lost earnings for each month of suspended operations.” (According to the think tank, United’s stock price fell 16.6%, while El Al’s rose 60%.)

Extrapolated, Beck says, that’s about $1.6 billion of lost earnings annually, or closing in on $3 billion since the war began.

“Despite these adverse financial impacts, United did not disclose the role of union influence in its public filings,” per the suit. “Statements by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and media reports indicate that the flight attendants’ union exerted internal political pressure to prevent resumption of the Tel Aviv route for ideological, not safety, reasons.”

Other airlines resumed flights to Israel “well before” United did so on March 15, per the suit.

“The Lufthansa Group resumed flights on Feb. 1, 2025, through all its subsidiaries— including Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings. Air France also resumed flights to Tel Aviv in early 2025,” the complaint states. “In contrast, United failed to provide shareholders with a clear explanation or any disclosed risk assessment regarding its prolonged suspension.”

“Notably, El Al Israel Airlines maintained uninterrupted service to Tel Aviv throughout the entire conflict period,” it adds.

The U.S. State Department issued some travel advisories during the war, but neither Foggy Bottom nor the Federal Aviation Administration directed airlines to stop flying to Tel Aviv due to security risks, per the suit.

United resumed service to Tel Aviv in March 2024, canceled flights in April—after Iran attacked Israel—restarted in May and suspended flights again in August 2024, amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The airline’s announcement in February that it would resume flights to Israel in mid-March came after the National Center for Public Policy Research sent the carrier a books and records request. After the May 4 Houthi missile attack on the airport in Tel Aviv, United again suspended flights.

Beck told JNS that United immediately resumed flying to Israel after the National Center’s letter in February, and United told the plaintiffs that the allegations regarding union pressure were false.

“Now that we did it again, same thing. As soon as we filed this action—within two hours—they returned the flight,” Beck told JNS. “Maybe it’s a coincidence, but it happened twice.” (United declined to respond to JNS questions.)

The think tank didn’t file a suit in February, since United immediately returned to flying to the Jewish state, according to Beck.

Mark Goldfeder, an attorney for the plaintiffs and CEO and director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, stated that “shareholders have a right to know whether it is true, as the evidence appears to suggest, that United bowed to ideological pressure to join a silent boycott of Israel.”

The complaint notes that United’s Feb. 4 statement about resuming its flights to Tel Aviv was a “sharp and troubling departure from the company’s longstanding practice of attributing route suspensions and resumptions exclusively to operational, commercial or safety considerations.”

“In an unprecedented move, United stated that the decision ‘follows a detailed assessment of operational considerations for the region and close work with the unions who represent our flight attendants and pilots,’” per the lawsuit. “This marked the first time United has publicly acknowledged union input as a determinative factor in the resumption of international flight operations.”

“The inclusion of unions in this context suggests an unusually high degree of influence or involvement in what is normally a management-level strategic or safety decision,” the complaint adds.

Per the suit, Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, has supported boycotts of the Jewish state, and the union has pushed for a ceasefire, advocated for Washington to cut off military aid to the Jewish state and defended anti-Israel protesters on campus.

“AFA expects every one of our airlines to ensure the safety and security of crew on layover,” the union told JNS. “Our advocacy with airline management, no matter the destination, is solely focused on flight attendant safety and security. Any assertion otherwise is unfounded and delusional.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Members of Hewlett’s Jewish community awoke Monday morning to reports of three disturbing incidents that occurred overnight within blocks of the shul and surrounding Jewish homes. The incidents, all of whom took place around 3:00 a.m., have sparked fears of coordinated antisemitic attacks, though details surrounding them remain vague and scant. The first incident involved a fire at Avi’s Auto Repair, where a tow truck parked in the lot was set ablaze, and the flames spread to the office building. Minutes later, ASAP Restoration had its windows smashed. A third incident occurred at the Chesed Center, where a banner bearing anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging was tied to the building’s front gate. While initial fears suggested a coordinated hate crime, investigators now reportedly believe that the arson and vandalism at the auto repair shop and ASAP Restoration may have stemmed from a personal grievance against the business owner, rather than targeted antisemitism. However, the sign hung at the Chesed Center is being treated as an act of antisemitism, although a Nassau County police source tells YWN that it may not be a hate crime under the letter of the law because nobody was directly threatened. Young Israel of Hewlett released a statement urging community members to remain vigilant, review security footage, and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. “While we agree with the message of being vigilant with our security, we would like to remind everyone that we also need to increase our vigilance regarding achdut—unity—and support for each other and our brothers and sisters in Israel,” the statement added. “No act of hatred will deter us,” the statement concluded. “Our only hope for victory—locally and globally—is through unity. B’yachad nenatzeach—Together we will prevail.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

PHOTOS: Community leaders held a summer safety security briefing in Sullivan County, joined by various law enforcement agencies to coordinate efforts ahead of the busy season. The event was led by Rabbi Abe Friedman, who helped bring together officials and agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of the community throughout the summer.

BIG: Dr. Phil, one of the most widely recognized and famous American television personalities and author who is best known for hosting the talk show Dr. Phil, visited the Boro Park Hatzolah garage on Monday morning after hearing what Hatzolah is. A more in depth article will appear on YWN about this historic visit and Kiddush Hashem.

TRUMP: We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.”

WAYMO has shut down all self-driving taxi services in downtown LA after rioters targeted and torched their vehicles.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass blames immigration enforcement operations, in which dangerous illegals were taken into custody, for the chaos that was allowed to transpire in LA. “If immigration raids had not happened here, we would not have the disorder that went on last night.”

US Vice President JD Vance rebuffed an accusation that Israel is perpetrating a genocide in Gaza, but lamented the lack of humanity from some on his side of the aisle who don’t recognize the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in the war-torn enclave. “I see these videos, I see the pictures, and it’s very heartbreaking,” Vance says after comedian Theo Von raises what he describes as “horrific” footage coming out of Gaza while interviewing the vice president for his podcast last week.

President Trump stated on Monday that if he held the position of border enforcement chief Tom Homan, he wouldn’t hesitate to place California Governor Gavin Newsom under arrest, following violent unrest connected to anti-ICE demonstrators in Los Angeles over the weekend.

“I would do it, if I were Tom,” Trump said as he spoke to reporters upon arriving back at the White House from Camp David.
“Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing,” the president added.

“I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows that.”

The confrontation escalated after Newsom publicly challenged Homan during a Sunday night interview with NBC News, saying the Trump administration official should “come after me. Arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy.”

On Monday, Newsom followed up on social media with a sharp response to Trump’s remarks: “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

Homan had earlier suggested that both Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could potentially face prosecution for interfering with federal agents attempting to detain illegal immigrants.

“I’ll say it about anybody,” Homan said during an NBC interview on Shabbos.
“You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”

By Monday morning, Homan had softened his language, appearing on NBC once again to clarify his remarks. “I never threatened to arrest Governor Newsom,” he said, claiming his comments had been misconstrued.

President Trump had already taken action over the weekend, directing 2,000 National Guard troops to be dispatched to California in response to escalating demonstrations.

Troops began arriving Sunday, as fires broke out and demonstrators waved foreign flags, including that of Mexico, in support of undocumented immigrants.

“We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated,” Trump posted on Truth Social while returning to Washington from Camp David.

He went on to mock local leadership in a sarcastic tone: “The very incompetent ‘Governor,’ Gavin Newscum, and ‘Mayor,’ Karen Bass, should be saying, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.’ Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren’t needed, and that these are ‘peaceful protests.’”

Trump concluded with a vow to uphold public safety, writing, “we will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

{Matzav.com}

Yasser Abu Shabab’s “Popular Forces” announces it has begun recruiting Gazans for administrative-governmental positions, in a first of its kind attempt to establish an alternative to Hamas’s administrative rule in the Gaza Strip.

I write as a recent high school graduate preparing for a year of seminary in Eretz Yisrael. Like many girls my age, I am filled with excitement, gratitude, and also questions—about life, about myself, and, more immediately, about what it means when I am told that I must now only wear navy or black tops, with no other colors allowed. Over the past few months, a number of seminaries have quietly changed their dress codes to require rigid uniforms or limited color palettes. The stated reason? “Consistency,” “elevated presentation,” or “removing distractions.” But many students feel a different message altogether: “Your individuality is a problem.” The result isn’t inspiration, but quiet resentment—towards tznius, towards authority, and sometimes even towards their own identities as frum women. It’s ironic. We want to raise girls who love Torah, who embrace tznius as dignity, not erasure. But when their self-expression is stifled for the sake of “uniformity,” we risk turning tznius into something cold and externally imposed. How can we expect girls to develop personal ownership over their growth if we don’t give them the space to be people—not just products? At the same time, we talk often and loudly about the “shidduch crisis.” We organize asifos, initiatives, and countless articles trying to “solve” it. But perhaps part of the issue lies in what happens much earlier—when girls are subtly told to conform at the cost of self. How can a girl form a healthy sense of who she is and what kind of home she wants to build if the path she was forced on never gave her room to think for herself? What makes it worse is that many of these rules were announced very late in the year—after girls had already purchased full wardrobes. This creates stress, waste, and frustration. Instead of cultivating love for tznius, it creates resentment toward it. We talk often about tznius as a Torah value, but it seems applied almost exclusively to women. Where is the parallel standard for the boys in yeshiva—many of whom are in Israel for longer? If seminaries are expected to police color and collars, why aren’t yeshivos enforcing no hoodies or guidelines around haircuts? Why are girls the only ones expected to erase individuality in the name of growth because boys in Eretz Yisroel can’t be controlled ? This double standard doesn’t inspire submission to Torah—it just teaches girls that being frum means being silent, small, and the only ones held to a higher bar. Also, in Bnei Yisroel there are 12 Shevatim for a reason. Each shevet was necessary to bring a different derech. There are different derechs each girl can take while still completely following Halacha. This is not a plea for casualness or for lowering standards. It’s a plea for balance—for leaders to remember that growth in Yiddishkeit must come from within. That dignity is not black or navy; it’s confidence, self-respect, and inner clarity. That tznius is beautiful when it’s chosen—not just enforced. I can’t help but wonder what Sarah Schenirer would say. She was unconventional, divorced, and in many ways a quiet revolutionary. Her boldness gave birth to Bais Yaakov, not her conformity. If we silence our girls under the guise of modesty, I believe she’d be rolling in her grave. As a community, let’s be […]

October 7 marked the day Hamas unleashed a wave of unspeakable brutality across southern Israel. In this must-watch video, Douglas Murray, author of On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization, joins Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT—therapist and author of Viktor Frankl and the Psychology of the Soul—on The Viktor Frankl Podcast to dissect both the ideology driving such horrors and the extraordinary resilience of the survivors. Watch the video now at www.torahpsychology.org The Face of Unfathomable Evil That morning’s assault was not a mere outbreak of violence; it was a deliberate celebration of death. Rape, torture, kidnapping, and slaughter were carried out with sadistic delight. Murray observes that this “extra layer of evil” transcends the physical atrocities, revealing a death-worshipping impulse at the core of Hamas’s self-described mission. This is why, he insists, we must confront their actions not only as acts of terror but as expressions of a modern “death cult”—a movement that exalts killing as sacred purpose. Filling the Existential Void Drawing on Viktor Frankl’s insight into the “existential vacuum”—the spiritual emptiness that can seize those without meaning—Murray warns that nihilism can be a gateway to the worst ideologies. In the video, he and Rabbi Schonbuch reflect on how young people at elite institutions, adrift in purposelessness, sometimes gravitate toward fanaticism. When identity and belonging come at the price of human life, “the darkest parts of the human psyche” are empowered, preying on unmet longings for meaning. Yet October 7 also illuminated the highest expressions of self-sacrifice. Murray recounts Gil’s story: a father who threw himself on a grenade to save his ten- and twelve-year-old sons. In footage Murray describes as emblematic, a terrorist calmly opens the family’s refrigerator afterward to help himself to a soda—underscoring the chilling proximity of life-affirming heroism and unrepentant brutality.  Equally haunting is the example of a young man at the Nova music festival, who, despite volleys of gunfire, drove strangers to safety in repeated trips—each return a testament to choice: life over death. These acts echo a core Frankl principle: those who believe in a future meaning are more likely to endure unimaginable hardship.Watch the video now at www.torahpsychology.org Decoding the “Death Cult” Mindset What psychology sustains an ideology that glorifies mass murder? Murray delves into the millenarian fanaticism of Hamas, noting its conviction that “blood and death have the ability to cleanse.” He traces parallels to other death cults—Nazism foremost among them—where genocide was seen as the ultimate solution to societal ills. Murray also invokes Russian writer Vasily Grossman’s maxim: “Tell me what you accuse the Jews of, and I’ll tell you what you’re guilty of.” By this logic, each charge leveled at Israel—colonialism, genocide, white supremacy—reflects the accuser’s own crimes. Turkey’s denouncement of “Israeli occupation” echoes its occupation of Cyprus; Iran’s rhetoric masks its regional conquests. The projection runs deep. A Friday Night That Changed Everything Amid the chaos, Murray experienced a moment he describes as life-changing: a Friday night Shabbos dinner. Soldiers had come back from the base, families gathered around the table, and everyone raised a l’chaim—a toast to life—despite ongoing rocket threats. In that simple ritual of blessing wine and sharing gratitude, Murray says he saw democracy’s true strength: a communal embrace of hope that no amount of terror can extinguish. If Hamas’s rallying cry […]

As the Knesset prepares for a crucial vote on dissolution this Wednesday, a high-ranking member of Shas told Arutz Sheva on Monday that the party has no desire to bring down the current coalition.

“No one wants elections, and we’re not eager to bring down the government. If any party stands to be hurt by its fall — it’s Shas,” the insider emphasized.

The official acknowledged the tense political situation, noting, “We are clearly caught in a difficult bind. When [Likud MK] Yuli Edelstein shows zero flexibility on the most critical issue for the haredi public, that’s a problem.”

He continued by criticizing the current dynamics among the chareidi factions. “There’s no way Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisrael will vote for dissolution because the Draft Law remains unresolved, while Shas serves as the ‘Shabbos goy’ keeping the coalition afloat solely for political gain.”

Despite the political impasse, the official offered a potential path forward. “If Edelstein budges even slightly, it may be possible to present a compromise formula to the rabbis that would delay the dissolution bill. But there’s no doubt that the keys lie in Edelstein’s hands and those of the legal advisors backing him.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu returned to the witness stand on Monday for the third round of cross-examination in the Tel Aviv District Court as part of the proceedings in Case 1000. The questioning was conducted by lead prosecutor Attorney Yonatan Tadmor.

Defense attorney Amit Hadad, representing Netanyahu, asked the court to wrap up the session earlier than expected, requesting that it conclude at 1:45 p.m. He explained the need for the early adjournment by citing “an important diplomatic call.”

In response, Prosecutor Tadmor asked the judges to reschedule the missed time for another session to ensure no time was lost in the ongoing proceedings.

During a recess, a disruption occurred when a demonstrator entered the courtroom and began yelling insults at Netanyahu. The protester shouted, “Loser, zero, take that smile off your face.” Court security quickly removed the individual from the premises.

Addressing the disturbance, Hadad turned to the judicial panel and stated firmly: “Next time that happens, the defense team will leave the courtroom in protest. This is hooliganism and blatancy, verbal violence.”

Later in the session, Tadmor argued that part of the testimony that had been heard in closed session should now be made public.

“I am approaching the chapter where the questions thus far were behind closed doors. The reasoning was invasion of privacy. However, since September 2024, Mr. Packer was interviewed by Australian media in an extensive article, which is public, and there he laid out the difficulties that he is facing in a much broader manner than was brought up here.”

Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman asked Tadmor for clarification on his position: “Is that a request, or are you bringing this to our attention so that we consider it?”

Tadmor answered clearly: “I am requesting. There is no longer justification for closed doors.” The judge instructed him to file a formal motion so the court could deliberate on the matter appropriately.

Case 1000 centers on accusations that Netanyahu improperly received valuable gifts from affluent associates. Authorities began their investigation in 2016, focusing on claims that Netanyahu and his wife Sarah had accepted luxury items from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and his associate, Australian investor James Packer. These included pricey cigars, bottles of champagne, and fine jewelry—items allegedly worth thousands of dollars, far exceeding what Israeli lawmakers are permitted to accept under Knesset ethics rules.

Prosecutors allege that in exchange for these gifts, Netanyahu took actions to benefit Milchan, including efforts related to tax benefits, regulatory matters, and facilitating a U.S. visa. He is facing charges of fraud and breach of trust.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Documents obtained by the IDF during operations in Gaza have revealed significant collaboration between the Qatari government and Hamas, including covert financial support and joint efforts to hinder U.S.-led peace initiatives, Channel 12 News reported on Sunday eveving. The documents outline how Qatari financial aid served as a critical lifeline for Hamas and enabled it to carry out the October 7 massacre. In one letter, Haniyeh informed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar that the Emir of Qatar had pledged to covertly support the group’s armed resistance. “So far, $11 million has been raised by the Emir for the leadership,” the document states. In a 2019 meeting between senior Hamas and Qatari officials, then-Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the “Qatari grants are Hamas’s main artery.” The documents also expose attempts by Qatar and Hamas to weaken Egypt’s influence in Gaza while bolstering the roles of Turkey and Iran in regional affairs. Additional intelligence reveals direct meetings between Hamas members and Qatari intelligence officials to coordinate specialized military training in Qatar and Turkey. The documents also disclose that Qatar and Hamas collaborated in efforts to oppose then-President Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century.” Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani held an emergency meeting with Hamas leaders over the matter, warning that some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, may normalize ties with Israel. Khaled Mashal said: “We must work together to oppose and thwart the Deal of the Century.” Additionally, Hamas made efforts to replace Egypt’s influence over Gaza with Qatar, with Yahya Sinwar asserting that Doha was more aligned with Hamas’s goals. Following Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, Sinwar wrote to Haniyeh: “Egypt had been working to contain the escalation, but we pushed them out of the process, leaving them empty-handed. In their place, Qatar stepped in, and we allowed them to shape the outcome of the diplomacy.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)  

Russia unleashed its most extensive drone assault on Ukraine since the war began, with nearly 500 aerial attacks carried out, just one day after American officials had warned that such a large-scale response from Moscow was imminent.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russian troops launched 479 drones along with 20 missiles during the overnight offensive. The barrage marked a dramatic escalation in Moscow’s military operations.

Ukrainian defense forces intercepted and destroyed all but 19 of the drones and only one missile managed to evade their air defense systems, the air force reported in its statement Monday.

Despite Ukraine’s success in shooting down the majority of the incoming threats, a military airbase located in Dubno—roughly 40 miles from Poland’s border—sustained damage. Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, confirmed to Reuters that this site had been the principal target of the Russian assault.

In response to the proximity of the strikes, Polish military jets, alongside aircraft from allied nations, were scrambled early Monday morning to secure the airspace of Poland, a NATO member. Poland’s armed forces issued a public statement outlining the precautionary action.

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated Monday that the intense offensive was a direct retaliation for recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian military installations earlier in the month.

“All designated targets” were hit, the ministry declared in its official announcement.

{Matzav.com}

In an incredible moment following the Adirei Hatorah maamad on Sunday night, Harav Ezriel Auerbach shlit”a paid a personal visit to the Zkan Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlit”a, in a gesture of ahava and kavod that left those present inspired. As Rav Shmuel was preparing to leave the stadium, his son, Rav Sholom shlit”a, approached Rav Ezriel and asked if he would consider accompanying the Rosh Yeshiva home, expressing how uplifting such a visit would be for his father. Without hesitation, Rav Ezriel warmly agreed. The two gedolim returned together, davened Maariv side by side, and Rav Ezriel requested and received a heartfelt bracha from Rav Shmuel. Rav Ezriel is currently visiting the United States for a short trip, having served as the guest speaker at the Adirei Hatorah maamad, where tens of thousands of bnei Torah gathered in a stirring display of kavod haTorah. Rav Shmuel’s presence at the maamad came as a surprise, given his advanced age and ongoing health challenges. Nonetheless, the Rosh Yeshiva made the journey to personally offer chizuk to the tzibbur, embodying the very message of mesirus and ahavas Torah that the maamad celebrated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

While tens of thousands gathered to celebrate kavod haTorah at the Adirei HaTorah event, a profoundly unique and awe-inspiring maamad for Torah unfolded in a Brooklyn home. This celebration marked the completion and publication of a sefer on Chumash—not an ordinary sefer, but a masterpiece written by Reb Yisroel (Sruly) Schubert, who, despite battling the devastating effects of ALS, typed every word using only his eyes. For the past three years, the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Elya Brudny, has delivered a weekly Thursday night vaad at the Schubert home, rarely missing a session. Following the Rosh Yeshiva’s divrei Torah, Reb Sruly shares his own dvar Torah, painstakingly typing each letter with his eyes in an extraordinary display of mesiras nefesh. Crafting a single paragraph can take hours, yet Reb Sruly’s dedication remains unshakable. Each day, Reb Sruly immerses himself in Torah, learning with chavrusos and studying independently with remarkable hasmadah. He dives into hundreds of seforim, tackles complex sugyos, and records his insights for his weekly vaad. What began as a weekly email titled “Takfu Shel Kohen” (Reb Sruly is a Kohen) has now culminated in a published sefer, a testament to his incredible siyata dishmaya and relentless effort. The event was graced by the presence of Harav Elya Brudny, the Schubert family’s rov, Harav Lipa Geldwerth, and Reb Sruly’s closest friends and family, all united in this Simchas HaTorah. Divrei bracha were delivered by Rav Brudny and Rav Geldwerth, followed by a deeply moving drasha from Reb Sruly himself, pre-typed on his computer and played for the attendees. The room was filled with emotion, and not a dry eye remained as the crowd erupted in song and dance to celebrate this monumental achievement. Reb Sruly’s story is a wellspring of chizuk and inspiration. For anyone feeling overwhelmed or doubting their strength, his example—captured in the attached videos—serves as a powerful reminder of what is possible through unwavering dedication to Torah. Reb Sruly Schubert is nothing short of a living inspiration to all who encounter him. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

California Governor Gavin Newsom escalated an already heated standoff with the Trump administration by directly challenging the president’s immigration enforcement chief, Tom Homan, to detain him over his refusal to crack down on anti-ICE demonstrators in the state.

“Come after me. Arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy,” Newsom declared in a defiant interview with NBC News on Sunday.

His remarks came shortly after Homan warned that both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could be criminally liable for allegedly interfering with federal immigration operations across the city.

“I’ll say it about anybody,” Homan asserted during a weekend interview, as scenes of protest and unrest unfolded in Los Angeles.

“You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.”

Amid growing tensions, President Trump announced plans to send 2,000 California National Guard troops to support federal immigration efforts in Los Angeles, where ICE agents have faced off with demonstrators for three consecutive days.

Newsom rejected the move, warning that the deployment would only heighten tensions on the ground. He also accused the Trump administration of weaponizing federal authority for political purposes.

“He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do that? He knows where to find me,” Newsom said in the NBC interview.

“But you know what? Let your hands off 4-year-old girls that are trying to get educated. Let your hands off these poor people. They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Trying to live their lives, paying their taxes. Been here for 10 years. The fear, the horror.”

“The hell are they doing? These guys need to grow up. They need to stop, and we need to push back. And I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go,” he continued.

Homan, meanwhile, pushed back against the criticism and defended ICE’s recent actions, saying Newsom’s rhetoric undermined public safety.

“We’re arresting bad people. We’re enforcing laws and following up on a serious criminal investigation on cartel financing. So that’s exactly what ICE did. And ICE took a lot of bad people off the street that day,” he said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”

“We arrested … gang members, arrested somebody that had an armed robbery conviction. So we made LA safer.”

“The men and women of ICE, the men and women of the border control made LA safer that day, but you’re not hearing any of this. All you hear is a rhetoric about ICE being racist and ICE being Nazis and terrorists — and Gov. Newsom feeds that,” Homan added.

In a countermove, Newsom announced plans to take legal action against the federal government over the troop deployment.

“They had to coordinate with the governor of the state,” he said.

“They never coordinated with the governor of the state.”

“This is about authoritarian tendencies. This is about command and control. This is about power. This is about ego,” Newsom concluded.

{Matzav.com}