On Wednesday evening, Flatbush Hatzolah welcomed a distinguished group of NYPD Community Affairs Officers to their headquarters on Ocean Avenue for a memorable meet and greet. The event highlighted the strong partnership between the two organizations, fostering mutual respect and collaboration in serving the community. Representing Hatzolah were coordinators Moshe Wulliger, Jack Rothernberg, Avrumi Rubin, Alan Esses, and Issac Unger, who greeted the NYPD delegation with warmth and hospitality. The NYPD was represented by Community Affairs Commanding Officer Chief Richie Taylor, 70th Precinct Commanding Officer Greg Mackie, newly assigned Brooklyn South Community Affairs Lieutenant Duran McLean and NYPD Clergy Liaisons Yehuda Eckstein and Avrumi Brown.

The IDF struck a Hezbollah drone storage facility in southern Beirut, targeting Unit 127, the terror group’s aerial force responsible for drone attacks and surveillance operations against Israel. The military emphasized Hezbollah’s use of civilian areas for terror operations, calling it a “cynical use of Lebanese citizens as human shields.” Prior to the strike, the IDF issued evacuation warnings and fired warning shots. The strike was in response to this morning’s rocket fire from Lebanon into northern Israel, which the IDF labeled a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement.

In a powerful video statement published on Wednesday by YWN on WhatsApp, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, unequivocally opposed participation in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections. The video, now available with English subtitles, captures the revered Gadol HaDor urging Klal Yisrael to refrain from voting, emphasizing the spiritual dangers he associates with Zionist institutions. Rav Landau’s words come amid ongoing debate within the Chareidi world about involvement in the WZO, with some advocating participation to influence funding and policy. However, the Rosh Yeshiva’s firm stance reinforces the traditional Litvish position against such engagement.

I would like to address something that had been keeping me up in the last few nights, which really shook me to my core. I am generally someone who keeps away from politics, especially in the frum world where we are really playing with fire. In that path, I made sure to keep away from the ongoing back and forth about voting in the WZO. I asked my Rav what to do and will following his psak. I avoid coffee clutches or groups in which they are talking about the controversy, as not to involve myself in Lashon Hora or even worse, Bizui Talmidei Chachamim. With that in mind, last night in shul, I couldn’t help but bump into a group of people talking about the merits of yes or not voting. Someone pulled out a video of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, where he allowed voting in the WZO.

British Business and Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds faced a heated disruption at a think tank event in London as pro-Palestinian activists stormed the stage, demanding an end to UK arms sales to Israel. The incident occurred at Chatham House, where Reynolds was set to speak on trade policy before being interrupted by protesters accusing the British government of complicity in war crimes. London for a Free Palestine, one of the groups organizing a demonstration outside the event, claimed responsibility for the on-stage protest, stating it was part of ongoing efforts to pressure the UK government into halting all arms exports to Israel, particularly components for F-35 fighter jets.

President Donald Trump appeared to pin responsibility for the growing Signal chat scandal on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, marking a shift in his response to the controversy that has rattled his administration. When asked who was to blame while signing an executive order on Wednesday evening, Trump responded bluntly: “It was Mike, I guess. I don’t know, I always thought it was Mike,” he told reporters, before downplaying the entire affair as a media-driven “witch hunt.” The president’s latest remarks stand in contrast to his previous explanation. Just a day earlier, in a phone interview with NBC, Trump suggested that an unidentified staffer—not Waltz—was at fault, saying, “It was one of Michael’s people on the phone.

A peaceful Asifa led by Sefardi Gedolim and rabbonim against Chareidi conscription into the IDF spiraled into chaos on Shmuel Hanavi Street today, as demonstrators clashed with police and Border Police forces. What began as a peaceful rally, turned violent when dozens of participants blocked roads, damaged buses, and hurled stones and objects at law enforcement. In one alarming incident, a Border Policewoman’s helmet visor was shattered by a stone. Police attempted to restore order with loudspeaker warnings, but as the rioting persisted, officers moved to disperse the crowd using force. Insults like “Shiksa” and “Nazis” were shouted at the officers, drawing sharp condemnation from authorities. One rioter was arrested for attacking police, and efforts to reopen the road continue.

Hachnoses Sefer Torah on Wednesday to the Dzirke Beis HaMedrish on Ditmas Avenue and Dahill Road.

The Williamsburg kehilla is eagerly awaiting the opening of a magnificent new shul on Throop Avenue, a project spearheaded by noted philanthropist Reb Yoeli Landau. With Pesach fast approaching, efforts are in full swing to ensure every detail is completed on time—including the construction of the mikvah. R’ Yoeli has gone to extraordinary lengths to guarantee the mikvah is filled with kosher water in time for Pesach – by bringing in fresh snow trucked in from the Jay Peak Resort in Vermont! The snow, transported by Imperial Marble, was brought in via a refrigerated truck to ensure it remained pristine and untouched, in accordance with halachic requirements.

Chaveirim of CJ members seen helping an Electric vehicle that ran out of battery on New Hampshire Ave in Lakewood. Chaveirim is equipped with a custom made mobile fast EV charger.