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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Rochel Zuckerman a”h, the devoted wife of Rav Aharon Zuckerman, rov of Khal Zichron Pinchos in Lakewood, NJ.

Rebbetzin Zuckerman was known to all who merited to know her as a woman of deep kindness, refinement, and strength. She embodied warmth and sincerity, greeting each person with a gentle smile and a listening ear. Her life was defined by chesed, compassion, and an unwavering dedication to Torah and to Klal Yisroel.

As a rebbetzin, she stood steadfastly at her husband’s side, supporting his harbotzas haTorah and rabbonus with devotion. Whether during their years in Brooklyn or later in Lakewood, she played an essential role in supporting her husband. Her home was open to all, a place of comfort, guidance, and encouragement. With dignity and humility, she carried the responsibilities of a rebbetzin, always seeking to uplift others.

She is survived by her husband, Rav Aharon Zuckerman; her children, Rabbi Yitzchok Zuckerman (Monsey), Rabbi Pinchos Zuckerman (Detroit), Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Zuckerman (Brooklyn), Rabbi Mayer Zuckerman (Jackson), Rabbi Eli Zuckerman (Passaic), Mrs. Roizy Nadoff (Lakewood), Rabbi Baruch Zuckerman (Lakewood), Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Zuckerman (Lakewood), Mrs. Shaindy Trenk (Lakewood), and Mrs. Yenta Chaya Moldaver (Lakewood); and many grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Mrs. Sarah Bleich (Brooklyn), Mrs. Itty Mendelson (Brooklyn), Rabbi Shmuel Lew (London), and Rabbi Luzzy Lew (Lakewood).

The levayah will be held Sunday morning at 9 a.m. at Khal Zichron Pinchos, located at 145 Flintlock Drive in Lakewood, NJ.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Multiple events planned for Sunday – including local weddings and the Mesivta of Long Beach dinner – have been rescheduled due to the impending blizzard.

In the latest setback to return astronauts to the moon, NASA delayed the highly anticipated flight yet again after a new problem cropped up with the rocket Saturday. April is now the earliest that the four Artemis II astronauts could fly to the moon. NASA revealed the latest problem just one day after targeting March […]

This is not just another story; it is a real case of פיקוח נפש! The Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Binyamin Finkel, Rav Yitzchak Ezrachi, and the “Chafetz Chaim of the Generation,” Rav Yitzchak Kolodetzky, issue a bone-shaking call: “The home is disintegrating. The medical crisis and distress have reached the level of פיקוח נפש. It is […]

it is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the the passing of renowned philanthropist and devoted patron of Torah and chessed Rabbi Yehuda Friedlander z”l, who was niftar over Shabbos at the age of 90.

Rabbi Friedlander, widely respected as one of the foremost benefactors of the Vizhnitzer and Sadigura courts, was known for his vast charitable contributions.

Throughout his life, Rabbi Friedlander divided his time between the Jewish community in Brazil — which he helped build and strengthen — and Yerushalayim, where he settled in his later years. His reputation as a generous supporter of thousands of Torah and charitable institutions preceded him, yet his heart was especially bound to the holy courts of Vizhnitz and Sadigura.

Within Vizhnitz, he was regarded as a central member of the chassidus’ board of trustees. His name is prominently associated with the grand and majestic Vizhnitz beis medrash in Beitar Illit, which he funded and dedicated from his personal wealth out of deep attachment to his rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe.

Rabbi Friedlander also maintained a profound and enduring relationship with the Sadigura court. He enjoyed close ties with the previous Sadigura Rebbe, and that connection continued with even greater strength with the current Sadigura Rebbe.

Beyond his financial generosity and acts of righteousness, Rabbi Friedlander was known for his rare diligence in limud haTorah. Just a month ago, an acquaintance recounted a moving example that illustrated his character. During a flight to the United States lasting more than ten hours, the 90-year-old philanthropist sat with a sefer open before him, immersed in learning without interruption or rest for the duration of the journey, like a young man in the prime of his strength.

The levayah was held at the main beis medrash in Kiryat Vizhnitz and proceeded to the Kfar Nachman cemetery in Ra’anana for kevurah.

Shivah will be observed at the home of his daughter, the Shargovitz family, at 2 HaHagana Street in Ra’anana.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

At least 1,557 people held in Venezuela for political reasons have submitted their applications under an amnesty bill that was signed into law this week and are expected to be released from prison, authorities said Saturday. Thursday’s measure is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and many others detained for months […]

Purim is not just another Yom Tov — it is an eis ratzon of extraordinary rachamim, a day when the gates of Shamayim are flung open and tefillos pierce the heavens. Chazal teach that “Kol haposhayt yad nosnim lo” — on Purim, we give to all who extend their hand. It is a day when […]

Peak excitement has gripped Toldos Aharon. With the arrival of the month of Adar, the dam has burst in the chassidus. Eighty-three couples celebrated their engagements over the past week, with nearly every home in the neighborhood marking a family simchah. And behind it all lies a closely guarded secret that the mechutanim kept in their hearts throughout the winter so as not to disturb the shteiging in the Toldos Aharon yeshiva.

In recent years, the chassidus instituted a well-known rule that second-year talmidim in the Toldos Aharon yeshiva gedolah do not enter the shidduch world before the month of Adar. As a result, the end of this past week saw an extraordinary outpouring of simcha.

A fascinating detail reveals the depth of discipline: in some cases, even when a shidduch was finalized during the winter months, the matter was kept strictly confidential. The mechutanim, the chosson, and the kallah guarded the secret carefully and did not reveal it to anyone, not even to their closest family members.

All of this was done to preserve the concentration of the chosson’s fellow talmidim in yeshiva and to prevent any disruption to the learning. Only with the arrival of Adar was the news made public. Then, all at once, families learned of the joyous occasions.

In the official community bulletin released ahead of Shabbos, chassidim were informed of the staggering figure: No fewer than 83 shidduchim were completed in a single week among members of the community, bli ayin hara. (See the listings below.)

The reality on the ground is remarkable. There is hardly a family in the chassidus that does not have a first-degree relative, brother-in-law, or cousin who celebrated a l’chaim this week. The streets of Meah Shearim and its alleyways have turned into one continuous parade of mazel tov platters, flowers, and the sounds of singing emanating from homes.

The focal point of the celebrations is, of course, the residence of the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon, where the mechutanim hold their l’chaim gatherings.

The successful model of Toldos Aharon has, in recent years, spread to additional chassidishe yeshivos. At the Rachmastrivka yeshiva and other prominent chassidic institutions, roshei yeshiva have likewise implemented the rule that the winter term is dedicated solely to limud haTorah.

{Matzav.com}

Major airports in the Northeast have begun preemptively canceling flights ahead of the arrival of an impactful nor’easter forecast to slam the region. According to data from FlightAware, over 3,000 flights have been canceled across the Northeast’s major travel hubs so far. Cancellations and delays are expected to continue to mount as we inch closer […]

Ahead of the snowstorm, Chaveirim of Central Jersey is recruiting volunteers with SUVs who are willing and available to assist the community throughout the storm with essential transportation needs. If you have an SUV and are able to help, please click the link below to sign up. https://forms.gle/vKfp6MmzU9dxb2nA6

A mix of rain and snow will start Sunday morning. Temperatures drop late Sunday afternoon and snow will start to stick Sunday evening. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour and increasing winds will greatly reduce visibility and potentially reach blizzard criteria (especially in Suffolk County) into Monday morning. The big differences in this storm […]

As of Motzei Shabbos, forecasts showed at least a foot of snow is expected for the five boroughs, along with central Jersey and Nassau County on Long Island. More is certainly in the cards. Some farther east on Long Island and down the Jersey Shore could see well more. Maybe even two feet. Totals have […]

“Conservative” commentator Tucker Carlson is facing sharp criticism following remarks he made during his interview this week with Mike Huckabee in which he floated the idea of conducting widespread DNA testing in Israel to determine biblical lineage connected to land claims.

During a podcast episode titled “Tucker Confronts Mike Huckabee on America’s Toxic Relationship With Israel,” Carlson suggested using genetic analysis to identify “who Abram’s [Abraham’s] descendants are,” citing the promises described in the Book of Genesis. “Why don’t we do genetic testing on everybody in the land and find out who Abram’s descendants are? … We’ve cracked the human genome. We can do that,” Carlson said.

The comments arose in the context of a larger exchange about Jewish identity, ancestral claims to the land and comparisons to Palestinian heritage. Carlson maintained that some Palestinians could potentially trace deeper genetic roots in the region than certain Jewish immigrants from Europe. He questioned how theological arguments about ancestry align with Israel’s demographic framework if lineage is central to the claim.

Huckabee rejected the premise, voicing discomfort with grounding national or civil rights in biological lineage. “I have no idea what that would prove… I’m comfortable with secular nation states where it’s none of this is done on the basis of blood. I’m uncomfortable with that,” he said. Huckabee instead pointed to archaeology, religious tradition and longstanding historical continuity as the foundation for Jewish ties to the land, distancing himself from Carlson’s proposal for genetic screening.

The reaction was swift. Among those criticizing Carlson was pro-Israel activist Laura Loomer, who accused him of advancing ideas reminiscent of eugenics and antisemitism. She argued that the suggestion would effectively require “every single Jew to take a DNA test.”

In a series of social media posts, Loomer labeled Carlson a “rabid Jew hater.” Other critics connected the controversy to earlier remarks Carlson made in a December 2025 interview, when he discussed regulations on commercial DNA testing in Israel related to privacy and identity issues. While such testing is regulated in the country, it is not banned.

{Matzav.com}

As a powerful nor’easter bomb cyclone barreled toward the region, New York City issued an urgent appeal today for temporary snow shovelers — requiring applicants to present multiple forms of identification, a policy that stands in contrast to the city’s voter identification rules.

The National Weather Service issued the city’s first blizzard warning in nearly ten years, forecasting between 19 and 24 inches of snow along with wind gusts reaching 55 miles per hour. Officials warned that the combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds could create dangerous travel conditions and widespread disruptions.

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency covering New York City, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city outreach teams had been deployed in preparation for the storm’s impact.

The New York City Department of Sanitation announced that it is hiring temporary, per diem workers to clear snow and ice from public spaces such as bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants and step streets. The agency said the additional manpower is necessary to address the expected accumulation and maintain public safety.

Compensation for the emergency positions begins at $19.14 per hour and rises to $28.71 per hour after 40 hours worked within a week. However, applicants must satisfy several eligibility requirements before being hired.

According to the department, candidates must be at least 18 years old, physically capable of performing strenuous labor and legally authorized to work in the United States. In addition, applicants are required to present two small 1.5-inch square photographs, two original forms of identification along with copies, and a Social Security card at the time of registration.

The documentation standards for emergency shovelers differ from the rules governing most voters in New York City. The New York City Board of Elections does not require identification from the majority of registered voters at polling sites.

Individuals voting for the first time are asked to provide one of three identifying numbers: a driver’s license number, a non-driver ID number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. Voters who did not submit identification when registering are permitted to cast an affidavit ballot.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

Brazil and India sealed a deal Saturday on critical minerals and rare earths, enhancing cooperation on crucial resources between two major countries of the global south as they seek to diversify their trading relationships. The non-binding memorandum of understanding on rare earths establishes a framework for cooperation between the two countries, focusing on reciprocal investment, […]

Shock swept through Bnei Brak over Shabbos after Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid Weiss, noted senior poskim, was verbally attacked during a Shabbos morning gathering at a local beis medrash.

Rav Weiss, who serves as the rav of Satmar chassidim in Antwerp, was present at a Kiddush celebrating his grandson’s aufruf at the Bobov 45 beis medrash on Rechov Chagai when the incident occurred.

According to witnesses, the dayan was seated at the mizrach table, engaged in animated Torah discussion with rabbanim and admorim in attendance, when an individual approached him and began shouting harsh and insulting remarks. The verbal assault reportedly continued for approximately ten minutes and was said to be connected to recent halachic rulings Rav Weiss had issued regarding matters of communal property.

Those present, including family members and rabbonim, were stunned by the brazenness of the confrontation and sought to intervene and remove the man from the premises.

Observers say it was at that moment that Rav Weiss’s composure stood out. Remaining calm throughout the tirade, he signaled to those around him not to respond. Maintaining a steady expression, he allowed the man to finish speaking. When the attacker concluded, the dayan simply responded softly, “Gut Shabbos,” and resumed his Torah conversation as if nothing had occurred.

Within hours, news of the episode spread throughout Bnei Brak and chassidic communities. Rav Weiss is regarded as one of the leading halachic authorities in European Jewry, and the affront against him was widely viewed as an act of severe disrespect.

In wake of the incident, preparations are underway for the upcoming wedding of Rav Weiss’s grandson, scheduled to take place Tuesday at the Ganey Hadekel hall in Bnei Brak. Associates say urgent meetings are being held with event organizers and security professionals to ensure the celebration proceeds without disruption and to prevent any repeat of such an occurrence.

Community activists in the chareidi sector expressed strong condemnation of the attack. “We will not accept the ביזיון of תלמידי חכמים within Bnei Brak,” one representative said. “Anyone who raises a hand or opens his mouth against the dayan will face a firm response.”

{Matzav.com}

An investigation to determine if backcountry guides were criminally negligent during a California ski trip that ended with eight people killed in an avalanche and another presumed dead has surprised legal experts, who said the probe has scant precedent. Backcountry tour clients typically sign waivers of liability that shield guides and their companies from potential […]

As a powerful winter storm prepares to bury New York City under up to two feet of snow, city officials have issued an urgent call for emergency shovelers — and, in doing so, managed to deliver an unintended civics lesson. The New York City Department of Sanitation has launched a recruitment drive for temporary snow […]