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.

Amid the looming coalition crisis over the lack of a Chareidi draft bill, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced on Thursday evening that “the IDF will issue over 50,000 draft notices to yeshiva students in the upcoming month of Tammuz and will soon present an enforcement plan against draft dodgers.” “This was presented by army officials at a meeting with the Attorney General today with the participation of the head of the IDF’s Manpower Directorate.” According to the Attorney General’s letter, this concerns approximately 54,000 orders (referred to as “the pool”) that will be sent during the upcoming month of July, with reporting dates staggered throughout the recruitment year, according to a plan to be determined by the army.

Zohran Mamdani, the far-left Assemblyman from Queens and a leading candidate in the NYC mayoral race, dropped jaws at Wednesday night’s debate when he flat-out refused to say he supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. “I believe Israel has the right to exist, as a state with equal rights,” Mamdani said, sidestepping a direct yes-or-no question about Israel’s Jewish identity — a dodge he’s pulled before. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, leading in the polls, wasn’t having it. “Not as a Jewish state,” Cuomo shot back. “And his answer was no, he won’t visit Israel.” The exchange lit a fire under what had been a sleepy debate — and put Mamdani’s long history of anti-Israel activism front and center just weeks before the crucial June 24 primary.

A person was critically injured Thursday morning when a wall collapsed at the shuttered T Fusion Kosher Steakhouse, located at the corner of East 33rd Street and Quentin Road in Flatbush. FDNY firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene, with EMS transporting the victim to a nearby hospital while performing CPR. The individual was reportedly in traumatic arrest at the time of transport. Sources tell YWN that the steakhouse has been closed for several months. The building was apparently in the process of being sold, and possible construction work may have been underway when the collapse occurred. The NYC Department of Buildings is investigating the incident alongside emergency crews. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)