An unusual but inspiring event occurred last Friday in the city of Ofakim, when the city’s Eruv wires were torn in several locations—which could have led to the Eruv being invalidated. During a routine inspection of the Eruv close to the start of Shabbos, an employee of the Religious Council identified rips and tears that had occurred in various areas. In a normal situation, they would have been manually repaired, but the short time remaining until Shkiyah necessitated a particularly rapid solution. During a consultation in the office of the chairman of the Religious Council, Rav Binyamin Malka, an unusual decision was made: to operate an advanced technological drone to repair the wires—while fully adhering to halacha and the strict instructions of the city’s Rav, Rav Amram Ohayon.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has introduced an amendment to strip $500 million in military aid to Israel from the U.S. defense appropriations bill currently working its way through Congress. The firebrand congresswoman, who has previously faced accusations of heing an antisemite – announced her proposal in a Facebook post she described as “a sprinkle of a slight rant and sarcasm delivered on a bed of raw truth,” sparking immediate backlash for its tone and substance. The amendment wouldn’t just target Israel — Greene also called for slashing an additional $500 million earmarked for Taiwan, $500 million for Jordan, $118 million in overseas disaster relief, and $15 million in HIV prevention programs abroad.

The Sanzer Rebbe participated in the Vacht Nacht celebration held for the grandson of Harav Elimelech Biderman, son of his son-in-law Harav Moshe Dovid Motzen — son of the Gaavad of Kiryas HaBa’al Shem Tov and son-in-law of the Shefa Chaim of Sanz, zt”l.

A psak from HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein urging the preservation of cholent as a uniquely Shabbos dish sparked widespread discussion this week — especially among bochurim accustomed to Thursday night cholent. But in an important clarification released, Rav Zilberstein explained that his original words were intended for a specific context, and not meant as a blanket issur. Rav Chaim Malin, a grandson of Rav Zilberstein and a prominent talmid chacham in his own right, published the update in response to the many inquiries that followed the initial psak.

A hiking tour company based in Puerto Rico denied service to a Jewish tourist, sending a blunt email with the subject line “No thanks” and the message “Free Palestine!” — and later doubling down in a WhatsApp exchange that confirmed they refuse to serve “so called israelis.” Paradise Tours PR, which offers guided hikes and eco-tours throughout Puerto Rico, appears to have engaged in blatant antisemitism after a Jewish American woman reached out to inquire about a hike during her upcoming vacation. The only information provided on the contact form was her name, travel dates, and email address — no political content, no mention of Israel.

A man in his twenties was critically injured on Thursday afternoon in a stabbing attack at the Rami Levy complex at the Gush Etzion junction. His death was determined shortly later, at the scene. The two terrorists who carried out the attack were neutralized at the scene by security forces. An initial investigation reveals that the two terrorists arrived at the shopping area armed with knives and attacked an Israeli security guard. They stabbed him severely and managed to take his gun. MDA teams tried to save his life without success. Large forces from the Yehuda and Shomron district, together with IDF forces and emergency forces, are at the scene and are working to treat the wounded and search for additional suspects. This is a developing story. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The Israel Police officially inaugurated the YITAR (Initial Response Unit) of the Yehudah and Shomron District during a moving ceremony held Wednesday evening at the Mearas Hamachpeilah. This new and innovative unit is made up entirely of volunteers who are residents of yishuvim in Yehudah and Shomron. Formed in response to critical lessons learned from the security events of October 7, the YITAR unit was created to deliver a fast, professional, and effective first response to terrorist threats and criminal incidents and increase the sense of personal security among residents.

A senior Israeli official has revealed that, according to intelligence information, the enriched uranium in the Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan was not removed before the US strikes last month, Reuters reported on Thursday. He added that intelligence information also shows that the uranium has not been moved since the end of the war. “It’s possible to reach the enriched uranium in Isfahan, but moving it from its place would be a difficult task,” he said. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Iranian authorities are still holding 10 Jews in prison who were arrested after the war with Israel last month. At least 35 Jews, residents of Tehran and Shiraz, were arrested for questioning about their ties with relatives in Israel following the end of the war. Although 25 were subsequently released, 10 of them remain in prison. International efforts are being made to save them. In a conversation with sources in the Iranian community in the United States, B’Chadrei Chareidim was told, “The detainees are held in harsh conditions, completely cut off from their families. We appeal to Am Yisrael—daven for them. Recite Tehillim. Mention them in your tefillos.

A stabbing attack occurred overnight Wednesday in the Jenin area when a terrorist stabbed a soldier who entered with a large force for a military operation. “During an operational activity of an IDF force in the village of Rummanah in the Menashe Brigade, a terrorist stabbed an IDF soldier and moderately wounded him,” the IDF spokesperson stated on Wednesday morning. “The terrorist was neutralized by the forces. The soldier was evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and his family was informed.” “Security forces will continue to work to thwart terrorism in Yehudah and Shomron and bring the terrorists to justice in order to maintain the security of the residents of the sector and the citizens of the State of Israel.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)