By Rabbi Yair Hoffman Introduction In the United States, the spiraling and out-of control assimilation rate in the past few decades has yielded a number of children with Jewish mothers and gentile fathers.

The Trump administration is poised to unveil a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza and a possible long-term resolution to the conflict, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff revealed at a White House press conference Wednesday. But the announcement came alongside news of a parallel—and potentially explosive—development in U.S.-Iran diplomacy. “We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet,” said Witkoff, referencing ongoing talks involving Israel, Hamas intermediaries, and regional powers. The proposal is expected to lay the groundwork for both a temporary cessation of hostilities and a broader framework for peace.

On Tuesday, Sam Sutton officially took the oath of office in Albany, becoming the newest member of the New York State Senate. He now represents the 22nd Senate District, which includes parts of Brooklyn such as Boro Park, Midwood, Flatbush, and Marine Park. Sutton’s swearing-in comes just one week after he won a special election to replace former Senator Simcha Felder, who left the seat after being elected to the New York City Council. Sutton, a well-known figure in the Sephardic community and co-founder of the Sephardic Community Federation, secured a resounding victory in the May 20th election, earning approximately 67% of the vote. He defeated Republican candidate Nachman Caller and made history as one of the first Sephardic Jews to serve in the New York State Senate.

As anticipation builds for this year’s Adirei HaTorah Ma’amad, taking place Sunday, June 8th, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Klal Yisrael prepares to witness a powerful display of kavod haTorah and achdus. At the heart of the Ma’amad will be a monumental Siyum HaShas—not only completed multiple times by the dedicated yungeleit in Yeshiva, but now, for the first time, opened to the broader public. This year’s communal siyum is being held l’iluy nishmas two cherished talmidim of the Yeshiva who were nifter in the past few months.

What began as a routine graduation trip nearly ended in disaster when a bus carrying 47 children and three adults from Rhode Island to Bais Shaindel on River Avenue in Lakewood became the scene of a reckless and terrifying ordeal. Lakewood Alerts reported the arrest of Xiao Lei Lei Tian, 41, of Philadelphia, PA, who was charged early Wednesday morning with 47 counts of child endangerment and multiple motor vehicle violations following a harrowing high-speed incident on the Garden State Parkway. According to police, Tian—behind the wheel of a commercial passenger bus—was seen driving erratically at high speeds, swerving between lanes, and using a cell phone while operating the vehicle.

I24NEWS military analyst Tzvi Yechezkeli spoke about Operation Gideon’s Chariots in the Gaza Strip, which includes, among other things, the seizing of territory. “This plan sounds good on the face of it, but the rule that accompanies us in the Middle East is not what the plan is, but ‘how’ the plan is carried out. If the ‘how’ is carried out resolutely and intensively, because that is exactly what is needed right now, the plan will really be able to harm Hamas.” “There is nothing more powerful than seizing territory in a war against an enemy that uses the population as a human shield and underground to harm our soldiers. Seizing territory is definitely a strong step, and if they take control of 70% of the territory, it will definitely be dramatic and even historic.

The organizers of Daf Yomi have announced that the 14th Global Siyum HaShas will take place on Sunday, June 6, 2027, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Siyum, which marks the completion of the seven-and-a-half-year Daf Yomi cycle, will be a monumental celebration of the tens of thousands of Jews who have committed to daily learning of Talmud Bavli—early mornings, late nights, in hospital rooms, airport lounges, and everywhere in between. This moment belongs to them: the maggidei shiur who prepare each daf with precision, the learners who whisper a chazarah between meetings, and the countless wives and children who stood behind them with patience, sacrifice, and pride. It’s a tribute to every drop of sweat and every tear shed over a blatt Gemara.

A district court judge recently announced his retirement from the judicial system after expressing harsh criticism regarding the conduct of the President of the Supreme Court, Yitzchak Amit, Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the judge sent his resignation notice to Amit and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The report quotes sources familiar with the matter who said that the judge chose to resign as a sign of protest against the conduct of the judicial system in the recent period. “Following the conduct of President Amit, who forcibly seized the presidential seat and the conduct of the judicial system in general, the judge announced his retirement,” they said.

In a first for Israel, a decision was made on Wednesday morning to implement a law against Israeli terrorists who receive compensation for their terror acts from the Palestinian Authority, stripping them of their citizenship and deporting them from the country. The decision, which was made in a closed-door meeting at the Knesset with the participation of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, comes after a delay of two years since the law was advanced by coalition whip Ofir Katz. Katz instructed the relevant bodies in the security establishment to transfer the necessary information to the  Interior Minister for the immediate implementation of the law.