Hagaon Harav Shmuel Kamenetzky shlit”a, the revered Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia and zkan roshei yeshiva in America, made a surprise appearance at the Adirei HaTorah Maamad at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Sunday night. Despite his advanced age, frailty, and recent hospitalizations, Rav Shmuel traveled in person to show his unbreakable ahavah and support for lomdei Torah and their supporters. His presence electrified the already-charged atmosphere in the arena, where over 30,000 participants had gathered for the fourth annual Adirei HaTorah event—a revolutionary movement dedicated to raising the stature and financial stability of Kollel yungeleit.

Crown Heights has officially thrown its support behind Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming mayoral primary, making it the third Orthodox Jewish community to endorse the former governor. The neighborhood joins Far Rockaway and the Bobov community in Borough Park in backing Cuomo’s bid. This endorsement is particularly significant, as YWN reported in may 2021, Crown Heights was the first Chassidic community to endorse Mayor Eric Adams in the 2021 primary. With Mayor Adams not running in the democratic primary, and polls showing a competitive contest between Zohran Mamdani and Cuomo, the Crown Heights Jewish community has now united behind Cuomo.

A Brazilian activist (aka anti-semite) aboard the Gaza-bound vessel Madleen claimed Sunday that the ship’s navigation and communication systems were being jammed, suggesting that Israel is preparing to intercept the controversial flotilla before it reaches the Gaza Strip. Thiago Ávila, a left-wing activist sailing with the flotilla, posted a video alleging that their onboard tracker was spoofed, showing their location not near Gaza but bizarrely at Jordan’s airport. “We know what this means,” he said.

HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef arrived at the Ohr Chaviv shul on Sunday afternoon and witnessed the damage caused by a deliberate act of arson overnight. The sight caused tears to roll down his face. HaRav Yosef arrived at Ohr Chaviv together with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who met earlier with senior police officials at his home. Deri also spoke with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who informed him that the Shin Bet is treating the incident with the highest level of severity, as a nationalistic terror attack, and that an accelerated investigation is underway. According to a Kikar H’Shabbat report, the Shas party is paying for a personal security guard for HaRav Yosef until the end of the investigation.

An arsonist broke into the shul of the former Rishon L’Tzion, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, in the Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood of Jerusalem and set it on fire in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning. Before fleeing the scene, he also sprayed crosses and other Christian symbols on the buildings next to the shul. Security camera footage shows the arsonist entering the shul around 3 a.m., approaching the Aron Kodesh and lighting the fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the shul, HaRav Yosef’s office and his magnificent chair, as well as his sefarim and those of his illustrious father, HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, z’tl. Firefighters who were called to the scene brought the fire under control. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The IDF on Motzei Shabbos identified the names of the two other Yahalom unit soldiers who were killed in the explosion in a booby-trapped building in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Friday. They were named as Staff Sgt. Uri Yhonatan Cohen, H’yd, 20, from Ramat Gan, and Sgt. First Class Tom Rotstein, H’yd, 23, from Neve Yarak, a moshav in central Israel. Two soldiers killed in the same incident were named on Friday. Five others were injured in the incident, including a reserve commando officer in the Maglan unit who was severely injured. Hashem Yikom Damam. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

A tragic accident in the heart of the Five Towns on Friday morning claimed the life of Louis Meshonek z”l, a retired NYPD detective and beloved local, after his vehicle overturned at the intersection of Howard Avenue and West Broadway in Woodmere. The crash occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. and left Mr. Meshonek z”l, approximately 70 years old, pinned alongside his wife inside the vehicle. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where Hatzalah Paramedics began providing advanced life support as firefighters worked urgently to extract the couple from the wreckage. Mr. Meshonek was confirmed to be in traumatic arrest while still entrapped, and despite life-saving efforts, he was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene.

A devastating incident unfolded in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Friday morning, when a building collapsed on Israeli soldiers. Sources tell YWN that an explosive device detonated, causing the structure to crumble, killing at least five soldiers and injuring several others, with some in critical condition. Israeli forces responded with heavy shelling as helicopters evacuated the wounded. The IDF is expected to release a statement shortly on this incident. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel has assured the White House that it will not carry out a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities unless President Donald Trump determines that negotiations with Tehran have failed, according to a report by Axios citing two Israeli officials familiar with the matter. The reassurance was delivered during a high-level visit to Washington last week by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mossad Director David Barnea, and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. The Israeli delegation met with senior U.S. officials amid growing concerns in Washington over the possibility that Israel might launch a unilateral attack on Iranian targets, potentially derailing ongoing diplomatic efforts.

In the shadow of the escalating crisis gripping the political system and mounting threats of Knesset dissolution, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel gathered today (Thursday) for an extraordinary, out-of-the-ordinary session. The urgent meeting took place at the vacation home of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe in Moshav Ora, where the Rebbe had recently returned after an extended period of medical treatment abroad. This marked the first gathering of the Chassidish Moetzes since 2023, though it was held with a notably incomplete roster. Absent were the prominent Admorim of Belz, Sanz, Slonim, and Vizhnitz Merkaz. Nevertheless, the session saw the participation of the Admorim of Ger, Vizhnitz, Boyan, Seret Vizhnitz, Biala (in his first appearance since his father’s petirah), and Modzitz.