BNEI BRAK (VINnews) — Bnei Brak mayor Avraham Rubinstein who is isolated in quarantine at present issued a special appeal to local residents in the wake of the recent surge in coronavirus cases. “In Bnei Brak unfortunately there are about 300 cases of coronavirus. This is the most rampant and dangerous level of infection in the whole of Israel, and the prognosis is even more scary. It’s time to wake up! “The rabbis of the city and leading poskim are crying out: Stop trying to be smart with minyanim of more than 10 people, keep distances between one another.” Rubinstein’s appeal come’s after Israel suffered its worst week since the outbreak of the coronavirus, with cases spiking nationally from 1000 to over 3000 and for the first time 12 people h...
Death toll hits 12, more than 3,000 infected with coronavirus; Israel to increase tests to 30,000 daily Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed on Friday to significantly tighten movement restrictions in a way that will further reduce the number of people staying outside the home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.Netanyahu noted in a meeting on Friday afternoon that "if we do not see a change in the proportion of infections over the next two days, there will be no escape from a full shutdown of the country." The Ministry of Finance will formulate a plan for further reduction of labor in the economy.The Prime Minister also directed increased enforcement in supermarkets and pharmacies to ensure distance, disinfection and adherence to the Health Ministry's instruct...
This morning, I saw a few fellows dressed like me walking to a (“house”) minyan/prayer quorum, a day after 13 people died of Coronavirus in one New York City hospital alone, a day after NYC officials announced that over 20,000 of its residents have Coronavirus, 3,750 hospitalized, 840 in ICU units, and 280 dead. I could not help but wonder what G-d they are purportedly praying to, and what religion they are practicing. It certainly isn’t the G-d who instructed us to suspend even the halachos/laws of Shabbos/Sabbath to save a human life. It certainly isn’t the G-d who instructed us to be respectful of our elders, to be mindful of the vulnerable and less fortunate, and to be good citizens who follow the laws of our lands. Our Navi/Prophet Yeshayahu/Isaiah (1:15) sh...
“Number one …” presidential hopeful Joe Biden Jr. said at his March 15 debate with equally hopeful (though less entitled to be so) Senator Bernie Sanders, “if I’m elected president and have an opportunity to appoint someone to the courts, I’ll appoint the first black woman of the courts. It’s required that they have representation now. It’s long overdue.” He continued with his number two: “If I’m elected president, my cabinet, my administration will look like the country, and I commit that I will, in fact … pick a woman to be vice president. There are a number of women who are qualified to be president tomorrow.” No doubt there are, as there are a number of qualified men. But am I alone in finding it puzzling...
The Trump administration unsealed sweeping indictments against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle on narcoterrorism charges Thursday, a dramatic escalation in the U.S. campaign to force the authoritarian socialist from power. The administration announced a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture or conviction, an extraordinary bounty on a man still recognized by the Russians, Chinese and others as Venezuela’s rightful leader. The move effectively turns the 57-year-old former union leader into an internationally wanted man, giving Venezuelans a new motive to act against him and adding a new level of risk to any travel he might attempt beyond the confines of his power center in Caracas. Attorney General William Barr...
The Israeli government has opened up a war bunker in the Jerusalem hills to help coordinate its campaign against the spread of the coronavirus, Israeli officials said on Thursday. The bunker, called the “National Management Center,” was built more than a decade ago because of concern about Iran’s nuclear program and missile exchanges with Hezbollah and Hamas. According to Israeli officials, it includes living quarters and command facilities and can be accessed from the government complex in Jerusalem and the western foothills leading to Tel Aviv. “This (bunker) is another tool for managing, controlling, oversight and tracking” the coronavirus, said an Israeli official who requested anonymity. “We understand that this crisis will accompany us for an ex...
Many people who weren’t planning to make Pesach suddenly find their plans changed. Relax – it’s actually manageable and things will be fine.
It has been a busy week.  it began with a Bar Mitzvah on Motzai Shabbos, a wedding on Tuesday and a funeral on Wednesday.  Truthfully, this is not all that different from what a typical week looks like.  The difference was, the Bar Mitzvah was on zoom, the wedding livestreamed on YouTube and the funeral took place in the parking lot of my shul in the pouring rain with 10 men, standing 6 feet apart, while I delivered a eulogy standing under the open trunk door of the minivan containing the casket.  These are challenging times.  During these last two weeks we have seen the normal rhythms of life come to a grinding halt.  The way we do virtually everything has changed.  The social and religious norms that many have known their entire lives have changed. ...
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus. Mr Johnson said he developed mild symptoms over the past 24 hours, including a temperature and cough. He said he will now self-isolate in No 10 but will "continue to lead the government's response via video-conference as we fight this virus". Mr Johnson was last seen on Thursday night, as he clapped outside No 10 as part of a nationwide gesture to thank NHS staff. In a video on his Twitter account, Mr Johnson, 55, said: "I'm working from home and self-isolating and that's entirely the right thing to do. "But, be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus. "I want to thank everybody invo...
We are in the midst of a crisis. The world is in turmoil. The end of the tunnel is not yet in sight. People are succumbing, people are suffering. In our personal world we are so frustrated. We want so desperately to daven in Shul once again. We miss our chevra, our learning. We yearn to celebrate another beautiful Seder surrounded by our greater family, but it is seemingly not in the cards for this year.  We just celebrated Rosh Chodesh Nissan. It is not only the entree to Pesach, but a historically significant day in its own right. It was the day the Mishkan was established as the residence of the Divine Presence. We are taught that in the short time of a mere three months the Mishkan was completed and ready to go. From the day after Yom Kippur, after receiving the Tab...
John Barry who has written extensively about the 1918 influenza pandemic joins to reveal what lessons it could teach us about the coronavirus.
Americans are keenly interested in the cash payments included in the coronavirus relief bill that is soon expected to become law. Under the bill, millions of households will receive rebates in the amount of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. The amounts phase out for individuals making more than $75,000 and married couples making more than $150,000. The Senate passed the bill late Wednesday, and the House is expected to pass it Friday. Trump is expected to sign the legislation. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated in an analysis released Thursday that the rebates will reduce federal revenue by $292 billion over a decade, with all of the revenue loss occurring in fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Many people are facing financial challenges as a result of the coronavirus and have q...
The coronavirus has killed 385 New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday — with a startling leap of 100 fatalities in the span of just 24 hours. That staggering toll represents a triple-digit hike from the 285 cases Cuomo reported on Wednesday, among 37,258 confirmed cases now tallied statewide. “This is the really bad news,” said Cuomo in his now-daily Albany press briefing. “That’s the worst news you can have.” Read more at THE NY POST.
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 26, 2020 - Listen to Rabbi Moshe Hauer - COVID - The Perspective of Emunah  Click here to listen
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 26, 2020 - Listen to Rabbi Moshe Hauer - Corona Chizuk for Singles (Audio)Click here to listen
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