Hundreds of Gazans rioted on the Israeli-Gazan border on Sunday, the second day of Rosh Hashanah. The IDF responded with riot dispersal methods and live fire after Palestinians threw explosive devices at the security fence. At least five Palestinians were wounded. It was the second time that Gazans rioted on the border in less than a week, On Wednesday, six Gazans were killed and 19 were injured while attempting to explode a homemade bomb along the border in the northern Gaza Strip. On Friday night, the first night of Rosh Hashanah, the IDF attacked a Hamas observation post in the Gaza Strip in response to the riots.

As a 1.5-year-old war continues wreaking havoc across Ukraine, tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim are in Uman, welcoming in Rosh Hashana and the year 5784 at the Kever of Rebbe Nachman. The difficulties encountered in reaching Uman this year were historic, but despite them, the dedicated Chassidim would not be stopped from spending their Rosh Hashana in the place where they feel most connected to Hashem and their spiritual leader. As in past years, the city of Uman is teeming with life, with numerous Batei Medrashim alive with the sound of Torah and Tefillah. At any given moment, hundreds are davening at the Kever of the Rebbe, with many more sitting and learning – by themselves, with a chavrusah, or with their children.

Yaffed raises millions of dollars from those who share its anti-yeshiva animus. To keep its supporters happy, it makes more and more outrageous claims. A recent filing with the State Education Department sets a new low. Yaffed demands that SED require the City to conduct an investigation of a large yeshiva at 82 Lee Avenue. The problem is that the City visited 82 Lee Avenue years ago and quickly realized it is a butcher shop. You can see for yourself what goes on at 82 Lee Avenue: Despite those clear facts, Yaffed recently claimed that 4653 children are enrolled in school there. In fact, Yaffed’s lawyer signed an oath that its claim is “true under penalties of perjury” Not only that, he stated that he knows that it is true that 4653 children attend school there. How does he know?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with 32 Chabad shlichim and Rabbanim in his office on Thursday in a special event ahead of Rosh Hashanah. It was the first time such a meeting took place since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Fifteen Jewish soldiers from various cities also attended the event and received special medals of excellence from Zelensky for their bravery at the front. At the beginning of the meeting, Zelsneky warmly praised the assistance of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine (FJCU), which organized the event, as well as the devotion of the Chabad shlichim who remained with their communities in Ukraine despite the travails of the war.

Reports have emerged from Ukraine regarding a severe road accident in which a vehicle carrying Israeli citizens en route to Uman for Rosh Hashanah collided with a local girl. Sources tell YWN that the victim passed away from her injuries. The incident took place in the vicinity of Vinnytsia, a considerable distance from their intended destination – around an hour and a half from Uman. Local residents immediately alerted the authorities, leading to the detention of the Israeli citizens by Ukrainian police. Fortunately, the individuals involved did not require medical attention. Askanim in Uman are now working to provide assistance to those affected.

Rabbi Eliezer Berland, the leader of the Shuvu Banim kehilla, tried to enter Ukraine on Thursday but was denied entry and turned away at the border. He is now on the way back to Israel. Berland spent the past week in Romania in order to cross the border into Ukraine and travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. However, his name is on Ukraine’s blacklist due to comments he made in 2022 that the Russian invasion was a punishment to Ukraine for preventing his chassidim from visiting Uman during the COVID pandemic. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son. Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware. President Joe Biden’s son has also been under investigation for his business dealings. The special counsel overseeing the case has indicated that charges of failure to pay taxes on time could be filed in Washington or in California, where he lives.

Florida law enforcement apprehended a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi affiliated with an extremist group on Tuesday for hanging swastikas and anti-Semitic banners on a bridge near Orlando. This arrest marks the first known case of a violation under Florida’s recently enacted public nuisance law, with authorities now actively seeking three additional suspects involved in the hateful act. The state’s public nuisance law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in April, prohibits individuals from intentionally displaying or projecting messages on any property without the written consent of its owner. Governor DeSantis championed the law, describing it as a vital tool for law enforcement to combat anti-Semitic incidents and protect religious communities from targeting.

For the first time in Israeli history, armed guards will be stationed outside every shul in Jerusalem during the upcoming Yamim Tovim as Israel Police complete their preparations to ensure the safety of Israelis amid an uptick in terror. Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman warned on Wednesday of an escalation of terror warnings throughout Israel – especially in Jerusalem and Yehudah and Shomron – during the Chagim in Tishrei. “There’s an increase in [terror] alerts and many threats of attacks on the days of Selichos and Chol Hamoed and the Chagim,” Turgeman said, adding that the police are focusing on sensitive spots in Jerusalem such as the Kosel and Har HaBayis. “At the Kosel plaza, the number of participants will be almost 20,000 people at any given time.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf met with former prime minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Benny Gantz for talks in recent days that were not disclosed to the public, Channel 12 News reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the purpose of the talks was to explore the subject of a potential normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, especially the issue of Israel’s red lines regarding conditions for a deal. Several other issues were also discussed, including the Palestinian Authority. In response to an inquiry, Bennett’s office stated, “No comment.” Gantz’s office responded, “We neither confirm nor deny the existence of the meetings.” The U.S. State Department did not provide any response.