President Donald Trump named an Orthodox Jewish judge, whose official bio notes his penchant for studying Gemara, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Per his official biography, Matthew H. Solomson, of Silver Spring, Md., “enjoys studying Talmud, playing tennis and spending time at the beach with his family.”
“It’s notable that Judge Solomson is the first Orthodox Jew to be appointed as chief judge of the federal court he is serving on,” Nathan Diament, executive director of Orthodox Union Advocacy, told JNS.

The popular song “Od Yoter Tov” has stirred sharp criticism from one of the most respected figures in authentic Jewish music. Renowned composer and marbitz Torah Rav Hillel Paley, known for penning many classic niggunim that have become staples in the world of Yiddishe music, delivered a scathing critique of the hit, comparing it unfavorably to the controversial “Bishilton HaKoifrim.”

It is with profound sorrow that Matzav.com reports the untimely and heartbreaking petirah of Reb Chaim Lipschutz z”l, a beloved and esteemed yungerman in the Lakewood community, who was niftar over Yom Tov.
Reb Chaim was a son of Rav Avrohom Lipschutz, mashgiach of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, and a grandson of Rav Yacov Lipschutz zt”l of Monsey and Rav Yisroel Meir Kagan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Denver.

Rav Moshe Maya, a senior member of Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah and a former Knesset representative for the party, declared that Shas should immediately exit the governing coalition if the army detains even one yeshiva student for draft refusal.
Shas head Aryeh Deri paid a visit to Rav Maya’s home on Monday morning. During their discussion, Rav Maya brought up the ongoing challenges surrounding the Draft Law and the legal status of yeshiva students, expressing concern over the mounting difficulty in securing its passage.
In recent weeks, the military has issued tens of thousands of draft notices and thousands of arrest warrants to chareidi yeshiva students, sparking outrage within the community.

Rav Shmuel Bezalel, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim’s Old City and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, shared poignant reflections during a family gathering for Yom Tov. His words focused in part on how the hostages found faith during their harrowing captivity.

Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Kisei Rachamim, experienced a significant decline in his medical condition, according to a statement from his family.
The family noted that Rav Mazuz is scheduled to undergo another medical procedure, one that poses serious risks to his life. Later updates from those close to the rosh yeshiva confirmed that he has been sedated and placed on a ventilator after a sharp and concerning drop in his vital signs. His condition is extremely critical and his life is in danger.

As Pesach approaches, communities around the world prepare for the Yom Tov through the age-old halachic process of mechiras chametz. In Yerushalayim, this time-honored tradition took place under the auspices of the Eidah HaChareidis, with the participation of its senior dayanim and rabbinic leaders.
Heading the proceedings was HaGaon Harav Moshe Sternbuch, raavad of the Eidah HaChareidis, who arrived at the Beis Din headquarters in the Givat Moshe neighborhood to conduct the sale, as he does each year.
Photographer Shlomi Trichter was on site to capture the scene:

A halachic storm has erupted across Europe just days before Pesach, centered on the kashrus of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. At the heart of the debate are two rabbanim with sharply opposing views, one permitting the drinks for Pesach consumption in Ukraine, and the other warning that they may contain chametz gamur.

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Former President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he has selected Yehuda Kaploun, a businessman, Chabad rabbi, and active Trump campaign supporter, to serve as his administration’s new special envoy charged with monitoring and fighting antisemitism.
Trump shared the announcement on Truth Social, stating: “I am proud to nominate Yehuda Kaploun as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador-at-Large. Yehuda is a successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution. With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE. Congratulations Yehuda!”