On the eve of Chag HaShavuos, Rav Dov Landau issued an urgent and strongly worded letter to bnei yeshiva, addressing their role at this critical juncture and warning of government threats to conscript lomdei Torah.
With the state dragging its feet on passing a draft deferment law, Rav Landau expressed grave concern over attempts to forcibly draft yeshiva students — and threatened consequences should such efforts proceed.
“If they force yeshiva students to enlist,” Rav Landau wrote, “we will be compelled to take actions that we do not wish to take.”
In his letter, the rosh yeshiva calls on bnei yeshiva and avreichim to remain steadfast in their mission and to prepare spiritually as Shavuos approaches. He laments the prolonged uncertainty and political gamesmanship surrounding the draft law, which has left the legal status of lomdei Torah in limbo for over a year.
“Everyone knows,” Rav Landau writes, “that for over a year we’ve been living through a period of great confusion. The longstanding legal status of Torah learners with regard to military conscription has yet to be restored, and many in government are openly plotting to draft Torah scholars into the army. Time drags on, and unfortunately, the situation remains unresolved.”
He continues with a sobering warning: “If, Heaven forbid, forced conscription begins, we cannot stand idly by. We will be compelled to act in ways we do not wish to act. We are united in our resolve that not a single yeshiva student, G-d forbid, should be drafted.”
Rav Landau also calls on bnei Torah to use the approach of Shavuos as an opportunity to strengthen their commitment to Torah and personal refinement.
“As we approach Chag Matan Torah, we must strengthen one another — and our families — with the knowledge that our task is solely to learn Torah. There is no greater or more glorious mission in all of creation. Let us also grow in love for our fellow man and in tikkun hamiddos. How fortunate we are to have our portion in His Torah and to be sanctified with His mitzvos.”
He concludes: “May it be the will of Hashem that we rejoice in His Torah and that this Sefer Torah shall never depart from our mouths or from the mouths of our children forevermore.”
The letter is signed, “With great sorrow and immense hope, Dov Landau.”
Meanwhile, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced earlier today that the legal groundwork has been laid for imposing personal sanctions on yeshiva students who receive draft notices and fail to enlist. In a speech delivered at the Israel Bar Association conference in Eilat, Baharav-Miara stated that draft orders would soon be issued to tens of thousands of chareidi young men — effectively to all eligible candidates for service.
“Given the ongoing war, the IDF must expand significantly,” she said. “Every regular soldier equals several reservists in terms of the burden. The math is simple: drafting those who are currently avoiding service will reduce the burden on reservists. The Security Service Law mandates equal and universal service. The draft law that some are referencing has not yet been passed — it is not a working plan and does not exempt anyone from service.”
Baharav-Miara went even further, saying, “The current situation, where an entire sector is largely exempt from service while others bear the full burden of war, gravely undermines the principle of equality before the law and erodes the public’s sense of justice.”
She called for an aggressive increase in the issuance of draft notices and for the use of military enforcement tools against draft evaders. “In our discussions, we reviewed the low enlistment numbers among yeshiva students. A key to expanding the military’s ranks is enhanced enforcement — and that means all sectors, not just yeshiva students.”
Baharav-Miara clarified that these measures do not require further investigation and criticized the government for delaying enforcement, even though national security demands it. She stressed the importance of individual-level consequences to ensure effectiveness, saying, “The penalties must be personal — impacting individuals in real ways, such as at the airport, in their bank accounts, and in their ability to use vehicles.”
“General sanctions are not seen as effective,” she added. “From a legal perspective, the first step is a significant expansion in the number of draft orders — to cover the entire eligible population. The expectation is that, in the upcoming draft cycle, the army will issue notices to all relevant individuals.”
{Matzav.com}
Supreme Court President Yitzchak Amit and Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara both attacked the government on Monday in their speeches at the annual Israel Bar Association conference. Baharav-Miara referred to the government as a “regime” that is crushing democracy, and Amit claimed that “judicial independence is under attack in the public and political arena, and sometimes even during court proceedings.” Justice Minister Yariv Levin responded to Amit’s attack by stating: “What is under a wild attack – is the sovereignty of the people.” It should be noted that Levin does not recognize Amit’s presidency since his election took place after Baharav-Miara bullied the judicial system into electing him by prohibiting the Judicial Selection Committee from investigating multiple serious allegations against him. Levin also slammed Amit on a personal basis for his hypocrisy, asking: “And by the way, how can you even speak at a Bar Association conference when you appointed yourself to head the panel that is ruling on the Bar Association’s petition against the law that reduces its membership fees?” “Well, we’ve gotten used to the fact that you’re flexible with conflict of interest laws as they relate to yourself,” Levin concluded. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
A recent uptick in COVID-19 cases among international travelers arriving in the United States has been linked to a newly emerging variant of the virus that’s fueling a spike in infections across parts of Asia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s airport screening initiative, individuals landing in California, Virginia, Washington, and the New York City area have tested positive for the NB.1.8.1 variant.
CBS News reported Friday that these findings come from genomic data uploaded by Ginkgo Bioworks, the CDC’s partner in airport surveillance testing. The NB.1.8.1 variant is believed to be responsible for a significant wave of infections currently spreading through China.
Between April 22 and May 12, travelers arriving from a wide range of countries—including China, Taiwan, Japan, France, South Korea, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, and Vietnam—tested positive for the strain, based on sequencing results shared on GISAID, the international virus database.
In addition to the airport screening cases, state health departments in Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii have also independently identified instances of the variant within their communities.
The earliest detections of NB.1.8.1 in the U.S. were in California and Washington, with samples dating back to late March and early April.
The emergence of this strain coincides with recent announcements by senior Food and Drug Administration officials who outlined new guidelines for annual COVID vaccinations. The agency will no longer routinely authorize these vaccines for healthy individuals aged 64 and under or for children.
Back in Asia, the NB.1.8.1 variant is driving a marked increase in COVID activity. Hong Kong health authorities report that virus transmission has reached its highest point in over a year, with emergency rooms and hospitals seeing a sharp rise in patients. However, officials noted there is no current evidence that the new variant causes more severe illness.
In Taiwan, public health officials are seeing a parallel increase in COVID-related deaths and emergency room cases, prompting the government to build reserves of vaccines and antiviral treatments in anticipation of greater demand.
Chinese scientists have found that NB.1.8.1 may have an enhanced ability to bind to human cells, which could account for its apparent high transmissibility.
Meanwhile, both Pfizer and Moderna have presented initial findings to the FDA suggesting this year’s COVID shot be reformulated to target a descendant of the JN.1 lineage, which has dominated recent infection patterns and may offer protection against NB.1.8.1 as well.
The FDA’s advisory panel supported the move to target a JN.1-based strain, though opinions varied. Some panel members preferred allowing manufacturers to continue using last season’s version, while others backed the newer prototype vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna.
“Although one can’t predict evolution, and you don’t know how this is going to keep diversifying, the overwhelming odds are that what does come and predominate in the next few months, the next six months, next year will come from something that’s circulating now. It won’t come from something that doesn’t exist any longer,” said Jerry Weir, who leads the FDA’s division of viral products.
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Matzav.com}
Last week, the leaders of France, the UK, and Canada issued a joint statement slamming Israel for its handling of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, demanding that it halt military action in Gaza, and even threatening to implement sanctions on Israel if it doesn’t heed their orders. A day later, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot sharpened the rhetoric against Israel, claiming that it is turning Gaza into “a place of death, if not a cemetery.” “He who sows violence reaps violence,” Barrot said about Israel, and threatened to reevaluate the EU-Israel trade agreement. He also reiterated France’s commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state. “We can’t leave Gaza’s children with a legacy of hate and violence,” he said. “That has to stop — which is why we’re determined to recognize a Palestinian state.” In response to Barrot’s statements, the Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg, Rabbi Harold Abraham Weill, who was the Rav of Toulouse in 2012, when four Jews, including three children, were murdered in an Islamic terror attack at the Otzar Hatorah school, sent him a sharply worded letter. Rabbi Weill wrote: “Mr. Minister, there are sentences that we express as if we were throwing a stone in a pool, hoping for newspaper headlines, but some of them become bullets. Your recent words about Israel, ‘He who sows violence reaps violence,’ are not only a diplomatic mistake—they constitute a most serious moral, historical and political error.” “I am the former rabbi of Toulouse. On March 19, 2012, I did not ‘read’ about the horror in a ministerial report or in the press. I heard the screams, I felt it, I saw children being murdered in front of my eyes. On that day, Mohammed Merah, an Islamist terrorist fueled by hatred of Jews, coldly shot to death Yonatan Sandler, H’yd, his two sons Aryeh, six, and Gabriel, three, and Miriam Monsonego. The massacre was carried out at the Otzar HaTorah Jewish school.” “And to justify his action, he chillingly mentioned what you said, the same repulsive rhetoric: ‘Israel kills children, I kill children.'” “Whether a country like Israel, which has been hit by rockets and bereaved by the pogrom on October 7, can still be criticized is a legitimate matter for discussion. But to establish a moral symmetry between those who slaughter children and those who mourn them, between fanatical murderers and a people rooted in survival, is no longer blindness. It is contempt.” “I implore you to retract these words, not out of political interest, but out of human decency.” It should be noted that Merah, who claimed allegiance to Al-Qaeda, not only targeted Jews but also fired at French soldiers, justifying his attack by citing France’s ban on Islamic face veils and its role in the war in Afghanistan. Before attacking Otzar HaTorah, he shot an off-duty French Army paratrooper and killed two off-duty uniformed French soldiers and seriously wounded another. The Muslim population in France is the largest in Europe. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
President Donald Trump said Monday that he is pardoning a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury convicted him on federal bribery charges for deputizing several businessmen in exchange for cash payments. Former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, 53, was found guilty on fraud and bribery charges and sentenced in March. But on Monday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that Jenkins and his family “have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.” “This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn’t deserve to spend a single day in jail. He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left “monsters,” and “left for dead,” Trump said in the post. “He will NOT be going to jail tomorrow, but instead will have a wonderful and productive life.” Messages seeking comment were left with Jenkins’ lawyers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia was closed for the Memorial Day holiday. Jenkins is the latest pardon Trump has given to loyal supporters. In April, he pardoned Nevada Republican Michele Fiore, who was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she used money meant for a statue honoring a slain police officer for personal costs, including plastic surgery. In January, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, an underground website for selling drugs. Ulbricht had been sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after a high-profile prosecution that highlighted the internet’s role in illegal markets. He also pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of assaulting police officers. Jenkins was indicted in 2023 on 16 counts — including conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery — concerning programs receiving federal funds. In December, a jury found him guilty of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery. Jenkins took the stand in his own defense and said there was no connection between the payments he received and the badges he handed out, according to news reports. Testifying against Jenkins were two undercover FBI agents who were sworn in as auxiliary deputies in 2022 and immediately thereafter gave Jenkins envelopes with $5,000 and $10,000 cash, respectively. Jenkins appealed his conviction in April. Trump said Jenkins tried to offer evidence in his defense, but U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou, a Biden appointee, “refused to allow it, shut him down, and then went on a tirade.” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said at the time that Jenkins violated his oath of office “and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable.” (AP)
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of the longtime spiritual leader of the Johannesburg, South Africa Sephardic kehillah, Rav Aviyahu Levy zt”l, at the age of 80, after a period of illness.
Rav Levy was born and raised in the Musrara neighborhood of Yerushalayim. A close disciple of Chacham Yehuda Tzadkah zt”l, the rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef, Rabbi Levy received semichah at a young age and was also deeply connected to the Baba Sali zt”l.
Fifty years ago, he traveled to Johannesburg on a mission to strengthen Torah life and was appointed as the city’s Sephardic rabbi. At the time, Johannesburg’s Jewish landscape was primarily Ashkenazic, with one of the leading communities led by Rav Moshe Sternbuch.
There was no Sephardic beis haknesses in the city when Rabbi Levy arrived, so he founded the first Sephardic shul in South Africa. He would go on to serve the community for decades with immense dedication, drawing close many Jews who passed through the country and reconnecting them to Torah.
He was also known for assisting the Shuvu Banim community during their time in Johannesburg about a decade ago.
Rabbi Levy passed away without any children, and all are requested to learn Torah l’iluy nishmas Rav Aviyahu ben Yosef veChassiva.
The aron is scheduled to arrive in Eretz Yisroel tomorrow. The levayah will take place on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at the Sephardic eulogy hall at Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}
BDE: Boro Park Scoop regrets to inform you of the petirah of HaRav Eluzer Yonah Ginsberg zt”l, Rav of Agudas Achim and a prominent gaon and marbitz Torah. Rav Ginsberg, son of Rav Tzvi Meir zt”l who was the Ravved of Agudas HaRabonim and brother of the Chuster Rebbe of (Fort Hamilton Parkway) and Skolya Rebbe’s (48th Street) brother-in-law, was beloved for his avodas Hashem and deep connection to his kehillah. The Levaya will take place Tuesday in Lakewood at 10:00 AM at Bais Medrash Toldos Yitzchok, 937 E. County Line Road. Kevurah will follow at the Kosoner Chelka at the Beis Hachaim in Deans, NJ. Besoiros Tovos!
Prominent Gedolei Yisrael, led by Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galai, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, and the Admorim from Shevet HaLevi, Sasov, Shomrei Emunim, Bitchkov, Nadvorna Elad, Meilin, and others, went to the fields to harvest wheat for the renowned Tiferes Matzos Bakery, owned by the esteemed askan Reb Aharon Yosef Kornitzer. The wheat was harvested for Pesach 5786 matzos. View the photo gallery taken for YWN by photographer Shuki Lerer.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says one of the most effective ways to combat the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers is by incentivizing those nearing retirement to remain on the job longer through financial bonuses.
Speaking with CBS News, Duffy emphasized that addressing the shortfall in controllers won’t happen overnight, but a major element of the strategy is retaining veteran staff.
“I think what is key, we have offered a bonus to air traffic controllers who are eligible to retire. We are going to pay them 20% bonus on their salary to stay longer. Don’t retire,” Duffy continued. “So as we bring more air traffic controllers in, and keep the older, experienced controllers, we’re going to be able to make up that difference.”
Still, Duffy acknowledged that resolving the staffing crisis would be a gradual process that could extend over many months or even years.
For years, the nation’s air traffic control network has struggled under the weight of long-standing personnel shortages, outdated systems, and insufficient upgrades to essential infrastructure.
Back in February, Duffy rolled out a new set of measures intended to aggressively expand and strengthen the controller workforce, describing it as a plan to “supercharge the air traffic controller workforce.”
That plan was introduced just days after a devastating midair crash involving American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter on January 29, which claimed the lives of all 64 people aboard the plane and the helicopter’s three crew members.
More recently, concerns about the fragility of the system have intensified, especially after two consecutive air traffic control failures at Newark Liberty International Airport, a key transportation hub.
To help mitigate these challenges, the FAA recently announced an expansion of its Tower Simulation Systems, which are now being deployed across more locations nationwide. These high-tech simulators are designed to accelerate certification, lower costs, and give trainees hands-on experience with intricate airport layouts, safety procedures, and standardized communications.
This initiative complements other efforts Duffy is spearheading to boost recruitment. These include creating more pathways for former military air traffic personnel, broadening the pool of eligible facilities, and giving bonuses to both new graduates and recruits who reach crucial milestones in their training.
The agency is also planning to provide incentives for those willing to work at particularly challenging locations and aims to shorten delays in medical and security clearances, which currently can sideline candidates for a year or more.
As part of a broader training overhaul, the FAA is increasing its instructional staff and building a new Learning Center at the Air Traffic Controller Academy located in Oklahoma City. Duffy has also overhauled the hiring protocol, trimming what was previously an eight-step process down to five steps.
In light of the repeated disruptions at Newark, Duffy and acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau have introduced a set of immediate corrective actions to stabilize operations at the airport and prevent further breakdowns.
{Matzav.com}
It is well-known in Israel that the Hostages and Missing Families Forum is run by leftists, and in many ways, the organization’s activities are a continuation of the pre-October 7 protests against the Netanyahu government and his so-called plan to “crush democracy.” What is less well known is the extent of the organization’s politicization, which was recently revealed by one of the organization’s founders, Liat Bell Sommer, who has since left the organization. Before October 7, Bell Sommer was a leftist herself, a self-described “Kaplanist who burned the Ayalon.” Following the massacre, she had a desire to help the families of the hostages, and she volunteered to work at the Hostages Forum. And as one may think, her desire to help was not related to her political views. “I came to work with everybody,” she recently told 124 News [Hebrew]. “I didn’t care who they voted for. Hamas didn’t choose to abduct people according to whether they were right-wing, left-wing, religious, or non-religious.” However, she described that she gradually realized that her fellow employees and volunteers were there to advance their own agendas and would even only work with families of hostages with left-wing political views. She continued: “At one point, I realized that there’s a family there who had a huge story, the Samerano family. Their son Yonatan, H’yd, the son of Ayelet and Kobi, was murdered on October 7, and his body was abducted by a UNWRA social worker in a UN vehicle.” “This story remained behind the scenes for months because of the political views of the Samerano family,” she said. “At a certain point, we began to lose the international audience,” she said, meaning that the world was no longer siding with Israel against the UN’s complicity in the massacre. “Despite this fact, no one would agree to publicize the Samerano story,” she added. “At a certain point, I decided that I, the Kaplanist, would take it upon myself. I held press conferences at the headquarters, and we publicized the story. We traveled all over the world with the story—to Switzerland, to Paris, to the UN —to explain how guilty the UN was. If it wasn’t for me, this story would still be unknown due to the political views of the victim.” The interviewer interjected: “So are you saying that the Hostages Forum operated out of political considerations?” “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” she replied. “Despite the fact that this issue involved saving people’s lives, they operated and are still operating out of personal political interests—until today.” Bell Sommer added that the Samerano family was not the only one with whom the Forum refused to work. It should be noted that she explained in the interview that there was no official policy dictating this policy or overt statements about it, but in practice, that’s how it worked. “We’ve turned into our own enemies,” she said sadly. “Already before October 7 but definitely after October 7.” Watch Ayelet Samerano speak about the abduction of her son at the UN: (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, an outspoken, gravel-voiced Harlem Democrat who spent nearly five decades on Capitol Hill and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, died Monday at age 94. His family confirmed the death in a statement provided by City College of New York spokesperson Michelle Stent. He died at a hospital in New York, Stent said. A veteran of the Korean War, he defeated legendary Harlem politician Adam Clayton Powell in 1970 to start his congressional career. During the next 40-plus years, he became a legend himself — dean of the New York congressional delegation, and in 2007, the first African American to chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee. He stepped down from that committee amid an ethics cloud, and the House censured him in 2010. But he continued to serve in Congress until his retirement in 2017. Rangel was the last surviving member of the Gang of Four — African American political figures who wielded great power in New York City and state politics. The others were David Dinkins, New York City’s first Black mayor; Percy Sutton, who was Manhattan Borough president; and Basil Paterson, a deputy mayor and New York secretary of state. Few could forget Rangel after hearing him talk. His distinctive gravel-toned voice and wry sense of humor were a memorable mix. That voice — one of the most liberal in the House — was loudest in opposition to the Iraq War, which he branded a “death tax” on poor people and minorities. In 2004, he tried to end the war by offering a bill to restart the military service draft. Republicans called his bluff and brought the bill to a vote. Even Rangel voted against it. A year later, Rangel’s fight over the war became bitterly personal with then-Vice President Dick Cheney. Rangel said Cheney, who has a history of heart trouble, might be too sick to perform his job. “I would like to believe he’s sick rather than just mean and evil,” Rangel said. After several such verbal jabs, Cheney hit back, saying Rangel was “losing it.” The charismatic Harlem lawmaker rarely backed down from a fight after he first entered the House in 1971 as a dragon slayer of sorts, having unseated Powell in the Democratic congressional primary in 1970. The flamboyant elder Powell, a city political icon first elected to the House in 1944, was ill and haunted by scandal at the time. In 1987, Congress approved what was known as the “Rangel amendment,” which denied foreign tax credits to U.S. companies investing in apartheid-era South Africa. Rangel became leader of the main tax-writing committee of the House, which has jurisdiction over programs including Social Security and Medicare, after the 2006 midterm elections when Democrats ended 12 years of Republican control of the chamber. But in 2010, a House ethics committee conducted a hearing on 13 counts of alleged financial and fundraising misconduct over issues surrounding financial disclosures and use of congressional resources. He was convicted of 11 ethics violations. The House found he had failed to pay taxes on a vacation villa, filed misleading financial disclosure forms and improperly solicited donations for a college center from corporations with business before his committee. The House followed the ethics committee’s recommendation that he be […]
A Dedication Ceremony Was Held at Ramot Mall in Jerusalem for the New “Lehachayot” Kindness Club At the Ramot Mall in Jerusalem, a dedication ceremony was held for the new Kindness Club of the “Lehachayot” organization – a special, thoughtfully designed space dedicated to the well-being of children with special needs and their families. The initiative was spearheaded by the energetic Chabad community activist, Rabbi Mendy Lebel. The club was inaugurated by the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, and former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau. Rabbi Lebel founded the “Beit Halomotai” center for individuals with special needs, was the driving force behind the project. Photo: Mendi Kotler The new facility offers a spacious environment that includes a music room, a relaxation and play area, and refrigerators stocked with treats for the children. It will operate throughout the week, providing a warm, inclusive, and supportive space for the kids. In addition, Rabbi Lebel placed special emphasis on supporting the children’s families. The center will also host support evenings for parents and siblings. The event was honored by the presence of esteemed rabbis, including Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, and former Chief Rabbi Rabbi David Lau. Distinguished donors also attended, led by the Chimi family and Chani Steiglitz, who partnered in establishing the center. The ceremony was hosted by Rabbi Elazar Weber, and the emotional event was attended by public figures such as Mr. Tzvika Cohen, as well as other dignitaries, children with disabilities, and their families – all deeply moved to see this vision become a reality. The new club marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the “Lehachayot” organization to serve the community. It is expected to bring joy, support, and empowering experiences to the children. “This is just the first branch in Israel – we’re already working on more,” said Rabbi Lebel in his speech. A dream home isn’t complete without a way to reach it. Help us. Baruch Hashem, we now have a warm, welcoming space where our special children gather in the afternoons—laughing, growing, and shining. But now, we urgently need to purchase a handicap-accessible ambulance to safely transport these precious souls—bringing them joy, care, and celebration at Beit Halomoti, the Dream Home for Light and Life in Jerusalem. Would you like to donate and dedicate this life-changing vehicle l’illui nishmat a loved one, or as a zechus for yeshuot, refuah, and bracha? Contact: 053-443-0036 Every kilometer of kindness starts with you. Support this special project
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared on Monday that Democrats are united in their opposition to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” criticizing it as damaging and irresponsible.
“This is not beautiful. This bill is downright ugly — a job killer, a price raiser, a care slasher, and massive pile on to the national debt,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement to the New York Daily News.
He further argued that the legislation is riddled with problems that go beyond the surface. “There’s not just a little laundry list of reasons why this bill is so bad — there’s pages and pages of bill text people can read for themselves that so clearly hurt everyday Americans, disproportionally boost billionaires who don’t need help, and pile onto the national debt at a time when the president is already choking the nation’s economy,” he added.
Schumer emphasized that Democrats in the Senate plan to push back aggressively. “That’s why Senate Democrats oppose this just-passed bill and will work to shine light on it so our Republicans act.”
The legislation, which includes sweeping tax cuts worth several trillion dollars, narrowly passed the House last Thursday in a 215-214 vote.
Now heading to the Senate, the bill faces an uphill battle, with lengthy negotiations expected. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., will need nearly unanimous support from his party, as he can only afford to lose three votes. Currently, more than that number of Republican senators have expressed reservations. Like in the House, the Senate leadership will have to navigate between moderate and conservative factions within the GOP to move the bill forward.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump late Sunday night unleashed a blistering attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “crazy” and accusing him of “needlessly killing a lot of people” amid Russia’s intensifying assault on Ukraine. The post, published on Trump’s Truth Social platform, marked a stark shift in tone from the former president, who has previously avoided directly blaming Putin for the war. Trump went so far as to warn that Putin’s actions would lead to the “downfall of Russia” — a dramatic departure from his usual posture of cautious criticism paired with repeated calls for peace. Within hours, the Kremlin responded, downplaying the remarks and portraying Trump’s outburst as a product of high emotions. “This is a very crucial moment… associated with emotional overload,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who added that Russia was “grateful” to Trump for helping launch the ongoing U.S.-brokered peace negotiations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The FBI has ramped up efforts in three high-profile investigations involving serious allegations of misconduct, Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced Monday. The renewed focus includes inquiries into the 2021 pipe bombs planted in Washington, D.C., the cocaine discovered in the White House last summer, and the unauthorized leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs opinion.
In a post on social media platform X, Bongino revealed that he and FBI Director Kash Patel jointly chose to revisit these politically sensitive cases, allocating fresh resources and investigative attention. “Shortly after swearing in, the Director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that, understandably, have garnered public interest,” Bongino wrote.
He added that he receives weekly updates on the progress of each case. “I receive requested briefings on these cases weekly and we are making progress. If you have any investigative tips on these matters that may assist us then please contact the FBI.”
Bongino addressed why the bureau’s top brass has kept a low public profile, noting that he and Patel have done just one media appearance together since assuming their roles. “We decided early on to limit our media footprint overall in order to keep the attention on the work being done,” he explained. “There are both positives and negatives to this approach. We have chosen to communicate, in writing, on this platform to fill some of the inevitable information vacuums.”
Acknowledging public interest following last week’s interview, Bongino said they plan to disclose more details soon. “I try to read as much of your feedback as possible but the workday is busy, and my office is a SCIF [Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility] with limited phone access. In response to feedback, both positive and negative, from our interview last week we will be releasing more information which will further clarify answers to some of the questions asked in the interview.”
One of the cases under renewed scrutiny involves the placement of live pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committee offices on January 5, 2021—just hours before the Capitol riot. Though the devices did not explode, they were fully functional and left in populated areas just blocks from the Capitol, posing a serious threat to public safety.
Another probe concerns the discovery of a small bag of cocaine inside the West Wing of the White House on July 2, 2023. The illicit substance was found near a heavily trafficked entrance used by staff and guests, close to a designated area where visitors store personal items. It was also not far from the Situation Room and a floor below the Oval Office.
Despite an investigation by the Secret Service, no suspect was identified. The agency reported finding no usable DNA or fingerprints on the bag, and security footage yielded no leads.
Bongino has previously claimed, without offering documentation, that whistleblowers expressed doubts about the probe and suspected the evidence might implicate someone within President Joe Biden’s inner circle. He said they were “suspicious” that evidence from the White House cocaine bag “could match a member of the inner Biden circle.”
The third case being reviewed is the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the document’s authenticity in May 2022 and described the leak as an “egregious breach of trust,” launching an internal investigation to find the source.
Despite inquiries by both the Supreme Court and Congress, the individual responsible for the leak remains unidentified.
{Matzav.com}
Israel’s Education Ministry is currently formulating a list of several educational programs aimed at restoring Jewish identity and mesorah, and school principals will be required to choose one program to implement at their schools, Channel 13 News recently revealed. Some examples of the programs are implementing Jewish ceremonies such as Havdalah or Kabbalas Shabbos and Chagim; the singing of piyutim, Jewish studies instruction for teachers, the establishment of a garden for growing the Shivas Minim in the schoolyard, or even the operation of a Beis Medrash in the school. Predictably, some of the secular public slammed the plan as “religious coercion,” but many supported the move. In a response that surprised many, Yaron Avraham, a well-known secular reporter for Channel 12, expressed support for the plan, writing on his X account: “My opinion: Kol Hakavod.” “There is no need to run away from some mesorah and Jewish identity, and this certainly isn’t ‘religious indoctrination.’ Most children arrive in the army knowing more about Islam than about Judaism. Why? Excellent decision.” Avraham’s post sparked many responses from well-known media figures, and many expressed disbelief at his claim of children knowing more about Islam than Judaism, some asking him if he can actually provide one example. Avraham responded: “Me. I knew more about Islam than before I enlisted. Much more, even. I want my children to have a deep connection to their roots, and I’m really not going to apologize for that. There’s room for everything: for poetry and high-tech, for the Parshat HaShavuah and democracy. It’s not either-or, it’s both-and.” He added, “In a Jewish country, Judaism is excellent. Mesorah is wonderful. Mesorah is powerful. A nation that flees from its roots will eventually scatter.” One Kan journalist was incensed by Avraham’s words, saying that he is afraid of “the darkness of popular journalists.” But many others expressed support. Secular singer Kobi Oz also praised the Education Ministry’s move, writing: “I have mostly encountered schools that omit fostering Jewish identity out of fear. I have children who visited a church during school, and not a Beit Knesset, because anything Jewish is a minefield for the administration. They are raising a generic citizen of the world. As a student, I met different types of children, while my children hardly spoke with religious children in school.” It should be noted that this is not the first time that secular Israelis have bemoaned the lack of Jewish content in Israeli schools. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Germany’s new chancellor said Monday that his country and other major allies are no longer imposing any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion. Friedrich Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to try to secure a ceasefire and keep Western support for Ukraine intact since becoming Germany’s leader nearly three weeks ago. On Monday, he said that “there are no longer any range restrictions for weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine — neither by the British, nor by the French, nor by us, and not by the Americans either.” “That means Ukraine can also defend itself by, for example, attacking military positions in Russia,” Merz said at a forum organized by WDR public television. “Until a while ago, it couldn’t. … It can now.” “We call this ‘long-range fire’ in jargon, also supplying Ukraine with weapons that attack military targets in the hinterland,” he added. He didn’t elaborate, and it wasn’t clear whether he was referring to the easing of restrictions on longer-range weapons late last year. Commenting on Merz’s statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that a decision to lift range restrictions would be “quite dangerous” and “run contrary to our efforts to reach a political settlement.” Germany has been the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. Merz’s government has been tightlipped on whether it will supply Taurus long-range cruise missiles, something his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, refused to do and Merz advocated for as opposition leader. The government has said it will no longer provide full details of the weapons it is supplying to Ukraine, unlike Scholz’s administration, citing the need for “strategic ambiguity.” Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles). (AP)
In a political snub just days before a critical vote in the committee for appointing dayanim, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu attempted to mediate between Likud Minister Dudi Amsalem and the heads of the chareidi and religious parties—Aryeh Deri (Shas), Moshe Gafni (Degel HaTorah), and Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism). But the effort failed, with all three leaders refusing Netanyahu’s invitation to meet, asserting that the process is already closed and that “you have no connection to it.”
According to sources, Netanyahu summoned the four politicians to his office in a last-ditch effort to reach a consensus over the appointment of new dayanim. Amsalem, Likud’s representative on the committee, has argued that his party was excluded from the internal agreements reached between the religious factions.
Despite Netanyahu’s outreach, the party leaders declined to attend the meeting, firmly stating that their agreement on the matter was finalized without any involvement from Amsalem or the Likud. “The process is already sealed,” they reportedly told the prime minister, “and you have no role in it.”
At the heart of the dispute is the selection of new dayanim to serve on the rabbinical courts. The chareidi and religious parties have reportedly coordinated their choices in advance, sidelining Likud’s preferences.
A political source familiar with the matter noted bluntly: “The three of them made it clear to Netanyahu—he has no part in this process.”
Tensions escalated after the committee session concluded with none of Amsalem’s proposed candidates making the cut. In response, Amsalem denounced the proceedings, calling for the results to be annulled. He claimed the outcome represented a serious blow to the Likud and a lack of transparency in the selection process.
These developments underscore the growing friction within the governing coalition and highlight the diminishing influence of the Likud—under Netanyahu’s leadership—against the increasingly coordinated actions of the chareidi and religious parties, who are moving ahead with their own shared agendas.
{Matzav.com Israel}
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