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JUST IN: Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking at the fire command center as emergency personnel continue to battle the massive wildfires.

Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf of United Torah Judaism announced on Wednesday morning that he would not be attending the Memorial Day ceremony scheduled in Kiryat Gat. His decision came after concerns were raised that his presence might provoke demonstrations, which he said could lead to a breach of the day’s solemn atmosphere.

Instead of appearing at the event, Goldknopf stated that he would head to Yerushalayim, where he planned to spend time reciting Tehillim in remembrance of those who died in Israel’s wars and in acts of terror.

Speaking to Maariv on Tuesday, Chaim Saadon, whose brother Avner was killed in Lebanon in 1972, and who was among the signatories of a letter urging Goldknopf to stay away from the ceremony, said: “I, as a bereaved brother for over 50 years, simply feel insulted by the way this is being done. People who preach not to enlist in the military come to speak about fallen soldiers, I’m not even talking about Goldknopf’s personal behavior.”

Saadon went on to say: “It’s not just him, it’s all the chareidi ministers who go; they insult us by the fact that they don’t enlist, and they insult us that on the holiest and most significant day of the year for us, they want to come and speak at the state ceremony. I think you can’t lend a hand to this.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A fire tore through a hotel in the city of Kolkata in eastern India, killing at least 14 people, police said Wednesday. Senior police officer Manoj Kumar Verma told reporters that the fire broke out Tuesday evening at the Rituraj Hotel in central Kolkata and was doused after an effort that took six fire engines. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Photos and videos carried in Indian media showed people trying to escape through the windows and narrow ledges of the building. Kolkata’s The Telegraph newspaper reported that at least one person died when he jumped off the terrace trying to escape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he was “anguished” by the loss of lives in the fire. Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes. Activists say builders often cut corners on safety to save costs and have accused civic authorities of negligence and apathy. In 2022, at least 27 people were killed when a massive fire tore though a four-story commercial building in New Delhi. (AP)

For the first time ever, the biannual Viznitz Global Convention will take place in Eretz Yisrael, set against the stunning backdrop of the Northern Galilee. This milestone event will mark the first public appearance of the Viznitzer Rebbe shlit”a since undergoing a medical procedure in Los Angeles. The three-day convention will bring together leading Rabbanim, Gedolim, and philanthropists from across the Jewish world. This year’s theme centers on the hilulah of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and serves as a meaningful preparation for Lag Ba’Omer. The highlight of the convention will be a festive gathering on Erev Lag Ba’Omer, Wednesday evening, 17 Iyar. With every detail thoughtfully designed to reflect beauty and dignity, along with uplifting vocal arrangements, the evening is designed to elevate hearts and minds ahead of the journey to Rashbi’s tzion in Meron. A deeply meaningful moment will be the presence of the Viznitzer Rebbe shlit”a, who will inspire participants with his heartfelt words and presence—his first time addressing the public since the procedure. This special Wednesday night event will be open to Torah supporters from around the world, offering a rare opportunity to join Am Yisrael’s most esteemed leaders in a once-in-a-lifetime experience of unity, inspiration, and preparation.

In a moving tribute on Memorial Day, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu donned the tefillin that belonged to Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz, who was killed in battle. The gesture was meant to honor Hershkovitz’s legacy and the values he stood for.

“On this Memorial Day, I am honored to put on the tefillin of the Hero of Israel, Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershkovitz. Yossi, a wonderful educator, was imbued with true love of Israel. The moment he was called up, he said goodbye to his devoted wife Hadas, and to his children, Ari, Hillel, Tal, Shira and Neta, in order to protect the home of all of us,” Netanyahu wrote.

The prime minister emphasized that Hershkovitz remained deeply connected to his family and the nation even while serving on the front lines. “Even from within the Gaza Strip, he sent strengthening videos to his family, his students, and the people of Israel. Yossi combined a noble spirit with an uncompromising determination to defend our people and our country. In one hand he held a weapon, and in the other he held his violin. We will turn the grief over the fall of the late Yossi Hershkowitz and all our heroes into a melody – the melody of the power of the generation of victory.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Magen David Adom teams are currently assisting in the evacuation of nursing home patients in the Shoresh area in the Jerusalem Hills, following a fire in the region. Over 20 ambulances have been mobilized for the operation, including mobile intensive care units, as well as MDA’s intensive care bus, which is designed for the mass evacuation of patients in complex conditions. The evacuation is being carried out to alternative nursing homes in Jerusalem, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines, while ensuring the safety of the patients and the continuity of their medical care. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Magen David Adom is evacuating nursing home patients from the Shoresh area in the Jerusalem Hills due the nearby fire. More than 20 ambulances, including mobile intensive care units and a mass evacuation bus, are in use.

INSANE IMAGE: An Israeli Police officer captured on camera making a dramatic rescue of a father and child from the Jerusalem wildfires.

BQE NEAR WILLIAMSBURG: A serious crash on the eastbound BQE near Exit 32 Wednesday morning left two people unconscious and caused major traffic delays after a vehicle collided with a truck and overturned. The car was totaled, the truck sustained front-end damage, and the NYPD and FDNY responded, transporting the victims to the hospital. The highway remains blocked as emergency crews work to clear the scene.

An Israeli Air Force C-130J Super Hercules heavy transport plane, known in the military as Shimshon, is seen dropping fire retardant material over the raging wildfires.

A fire has also broken out in the Ramot neighborhood in yerushalayim.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston puts out an order banning Border Patrol from arresting criminal aliens without a warrant.

Israeli Police have arrested a man in his 50s in southern Jerusalem for attempting to set a field on fire. He was apprehended with incendiary materials after a short pursuit.

The Rebbe of Karlin-Stolin will spend the upcoming Shabbos, Tazria-Metzora, in Detroit, Michigan. The visit marks a rare and significant occasion, as the Rebbe will not only visit the kever of his great-uncle, the tzaddik Rav Yaakov Chaim of Stolin zt”l, whose resting place is in Detroit, but will also remain in the city for Shabbos.

While the Rebbe traditionally travels to Detroit annually for the yahrtzeit of Rav Yaakov Chaim, this year’s visit is different: he will be spending the entire Shabbos with his chassidim in the city—something he last did fifteen years ago.

The visit is expected to draw hundreds of Karlin-Stolin chassidim from around the world, and preparations on the ground are already underway. A team of community organizers is working tirelessly to erect large tents that will serve as temporary batei midrash for tefillos and tishen, while lodging accommodations are being secured to house the influx of visitors.

On Sunday, the Rebbe is scheduled to visit the kever of Rav Yaakov Chaim, joined by many chassidim, to daven for yeshuos for both individuals and the broader klal.

The baal haHillula, Rav Yaakov Chaim of Stolin zt”l, was the third son of Rav Yisroel Perlow of Stolin, known as the “Yanuka.” He married Rebbetzin Chanah Chaya a”h, daughter of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heshel Twersky. The couple was not blessed with children.

After his father’s passing in 1922, Rav Yaakov Chaim immigrated to the United States in 1924, leading the Karlin chassidim primarily in New York. He established additional shuls in Williamsburg, and—together with the Karlin-Kobrin faction—in Chicago and Detroit.

At the time, the Karlin-Stolin presence in America numbered in the hundreds. Rav Yaakov Chaim devoted himself to kiruv, reaching out to unaffiliated Jewish youth and students during a time when many were drifting from Yiddishkeit. He founded Torah institutions and held inspiring tishen in his home every Shabbos, attracting large crowds.

On the 6th of Iyar in 1946, while visiting his community in Detroit, Rav Yaakov Chaim suddenly collapsed and passed away. He was buried in Detroit and came to be known affectionately among his chassidim as “the Detroiter.”

Two years after his passing, his brother, the rebbe Rav Yochanan, arrived in America and settled in Williamsburg, where he opened a yeshiva and built new institutions. Later in life, he relocated the center of Karlin-Stolin chassidus to Boro Park.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

Why do we allow the shidduch process to consume us? Anyone in the parshah—whether for themselves or for their children—knows the crushing anxiety that accompanies the research phase of a potential match. How are we expected to determine compatibility from a resume? Is he like this or like that? Will her personality align with our expectations?

With every new profile, our minds race through endless possibilities—and anxiety, ever the pessimist, convinces us to assume the worst. Maybe they have this issue… Maybe they won’t understand that part of me… The doubts pile up, and all too often, we talk ourselves out of even considering the shidduch.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I recently adopted a new approach—one that has been nothing short of transformative. I recognized a pattern in myself: when all I have is a piece of paper, my imagination takes over. Anxiety flourishes in the unknown, creating obstacles that may not even exist. But once I speak to the person? Everything changes. That abstract profile becomes a real, dynamic, multifaceted human being. The fears that loomed so large? Often unfounded. The concerns? Frequently irrelevant. The clarity? Remarkable.

So here’s what I do now: If a suggestion seems even remotely plausible, I ask the shadchan to arrange a brief phone call—right away. No commitments, no pressure to continue—just a short, informal conversation. The goal? To replace the paper with a person.

The difference is night and day.

Deciding whether to move forward becomes infinitely easier—and far less stressful—when I’m interacting with a real human being instead of dissecting a checklist of traits. People are always better than papers.

Granted, some shadchanim are hesitant (though the truly helpful ones are usually open to it). Sometimes the other side needs reassurance. But honestly—what do you have to lose? Every single person who’s tried this approach has told me it changed the way they view the process. One parent even reached out to thank me, saying it gave their child renewed hope. For them, shidduchim no longer felt like a burdensome ordeal.

The idea is simple: Turn the paper into a person.

A short, pressure-free conversation resets the dynamic entirely. And afterward, you’re exactly where you started—free to say, “Thanks, I’ll let you know if I’m interested.” But now, you’re making that decision based on a real interaction, not just speculation.

If you’re in the parshah—or guiding someone who is—try this once. Just once. You may feel the weight begin to lift, and the dread replaced by a new sense of hope and clarity.

Wishing you tremendous siyatta diShmaya. May Hashem guide you quickly and peacefully to your zivug hagun.

Hatzlacha,
A Friend 

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{Matzav.com}

DRAMATIC SCENES: Samaria District forces completed the evacuation of residents in the settlement of Mevo Horon and the Canada Park area.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog opened the country’s Memorial Day events on Tuesday evening with a somber state ceremony at the Kosel in Yerushalayim, honoring fallen Israel Defense Forces soldiers and victims of terrorism.

Speaking alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and bereaved families, Herzog issued a passionate call for national unity and demanded the return of all hostages still held in Gaza.

“This year, more than ever, the siren’s sound is also a true alarm,” said Herzog. “It rises like a terrible cry … for the kidnapped, the wounded, the murdered. We will not rest and we will not be still—until all of you come home. Every single one.”

The president warned against internal division, urging Israelis to reject hatred and polarization. “Enough division! Enough polarization! Enough hatred!” he said. “We must not, by our own hands, bring about the destruction of our national home.”

Later in the evening, Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog attended the “Songs in Their Memory” event at the Knesset in tribute to Israel’s fallen.

According to Defense Ministry figures released ahead of the day of remembrance, 319 Israeli soldiers have fallen since last Memorial Day—most during fighting in Gaza, Lebanon and Judea and Samaria. An additional 61 disabled veterans succumbed to wounds sustained in earlier service, bringing the total number of Israel’s fallen security personnel to 25,420 since 1860.

Seventy-nine names were also added to the list of terrorism victims in the past year, raising the total to 5,229 since 1851, according to Israel’s National Insurance Institute.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Philadelphia educator Heather Mizrachi walked into her city school district office following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, only to be greeted by a poster with the slogan, “Free Palestine.”

For Mizrachi, who is Jewish and the daughter of an Israeli, the image was jarring, to say the least. She continued to see the poster daily in her job in the central office as a curriculum specialist for middle-school students. Her complaints were ignored, she said.

“Each of those encounters left me in tears, in complete despair, and left me feeling dehumanized and undermined because of my religion and shared national origin,” the New Jersey resident told JNS via Microsoft Teams.

She added that there had always been a few postings from a few people, but after Oct. 7, “it was a flooding of the gates kind of situation.”

Citing the poster and other acts of harassment post-Oct. 7, including social-media posts from fellow school district employees. Mizrachi, who had worked for the Philadelphia city school system since 2017, went to court.

Her lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania, says she “has been forced to endure conditions that, by any objective measure, are grossly offensive, severe, and pervasive, including, among many other things, being forced to look at images that advocate for the violent destruction of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”

“It made it nearly impossible not to pursue this path,” she said about the lawsuit. She said she felt that her colleagues had a “sense of permission to post these kinds of things. That’s been very troubling for me.”

The school district had no comment. It does not comment on pending litigation,” spokeswoman Christina Clark told JNS in a statement.

The aforementioned poster also included a Palestinian flag and the slogan, “From the river to the sea,” which the Anti-Defamation League says has been used by supporters of Hamas and other terrorist organizations and “is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland.”

In addition, her lawsuit said, those social-media accounts called for Israel’s destruction, accused the country of being a “terrorist state” and cheered on Hamas.

The U.S. Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights earlier had investigated the school system over allegations of antisemitic harassment after Oct. 7.

That case was resolved when the school district agreed to take several steps, including distributing an anti-harassment statement; providing annual training to administrations, faculty and staff; describing actions to be taken to respond to harassment, and giving age-appropriate information to students about discrimination based on race, color and national origin.

But the harassment didn’t stop, Mizrachi said.

“It’s like saying you’re trying to wrap your head around how this is OK—and it’s not,” she said. In many cases, it’s that sort of wishing it away, hoping it will pass.”

This latest case has just begun, with the school district not having to respond until late next month.

“I just feel like sometimes people are apprehensive to come forward,” she said. “I know I’m not the only one who has been enduring this. I want people to know they are not alone.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Sources at the police fire command center suspect that some of the fires currently raging in Israel were caused by arson. Three suspects have been arrested and are currently being questioned. One of the suspects was caught red-handed trying to set a fire in southern Jerusalem. Following a report about a person trying to set fire to vegetation in the area, police officers were called to the scene and located the suspect, who tried to escape and was arrested after a chase. A lighter, cotton wool and other flammable materials were found in his possession. The suspect, a resident of east Jerusalem in his 50s, was transferred for questioning at the Oz station. Concern is growing in light of the wave of fires that have broken out, the most significant of which is still raging in the Jerusalem hills area. In addition to the fires in the Jerusalem hills and near Beit Shemesh, which are relatively common for the season, fires are also raging in a series of additional locations, such as Beit She’an and Afula in the north of the country, and in other areas, including in southern Israel. Hamas posted a message on Telegram on Wednesday urging Palestinains to set fire to “fields, forests, and settlers’ homes.” Yisrael Ganz, the head of the Yesha and Binyamin Councils, held a situational assessment and ordered a high alert in the area to prevent any arson attempts. Ganz is currently overseeing the evacuation of Mevo Choron, which is on the line of fire in the Jerusalem Hills. The fire that broke out a week ago near Beit Shemesh is believed to be the result of arson. Fire chief Eyal Caspi said on Wednesday evening that the fires are expected to last for at least another day. The Meteorological Service said on Wednesday evening that the severe weather is expected to continue in the coming hours, and the risk of the spread of fires continues to be very high, especially in the center of the country, with an emphasis on the Judean Plains and the Jerusalem Hills – where strong gusts of wind of 60-70 km/h are expected from west to east. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)