Hezi Simantov, a commentator and correspondent for Arab affairs of 'News 13', spoke Tuesday morning with Nissim Mashal and Anat Davidov on 103FM about the assassination of the senior Iranian Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, and the expected consequences.
First of all, according to the reports from Syria and Iran, the Israeli Air Force allegedly attacked a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, where several senior Iranian officials were located, among them Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who is actually the deputy commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria and Lebanon,” Simantov began.
“A very senior member of the Iranian hierarchy, he managed the entire operation of smuggling weapons from ...
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (Likud) on Tuesday spoke to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, chaired by MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud), about the ongoing war, providing the Committee members with an operational briefing.
During the meeting, Gallant discussed the IDF’s progress in fighting and dismantling Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the various efforts to ensure the return of the hostages held by Hamas, and the IDF’s counterterrorism operations.
Minister Gallant also touched on the essential need to recruit additional personnel to the IDF, and said that the defense establishment is currently preparing to formulate a framework that will enable the recruitment of a growing portion of the Orthodox public – a framework that takes into account the cond...
The international credit rating agency Fitch announced on Tuesday the reaffirmation of the State of Israel's credit rating at an A+ level, the removal of the "Negative Watch" and an update of the rating outlook from "Stable" to "Negative."
According to the company, "Geopolitical risks associated with the war in Gaza remain elevated and escalation risks remain present, but Fitch believes the risks to the credit profile have broadened and their impact may take longer to assess, so has removed the RWN on Israel's 'A+' rating."
Regarding the update of the rating outlook, the company mentions that "The Negative Outlook reflects the combination of uncertainties around the fiscal trajectory and the war's duration and intensity, including the risk of regional escalation....
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday responded to a Gaza incident which left five World Central Kitchen (WCK) employees dead.
As he exited Leaving Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital early Tuesday afternoon, Netanyahu said, "I am now being discharged from Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital, which had become my office in the past day. We continued to work even from here."
"I would like to thank Professor Pikarsky and the wonderful Hadassah-Ein Kerem medical team that successfully operated on my hernia. I would also like to thank the masses of Israeli citizens for sending me your best wishes for recovery. I am recovering; thank you."
He added, "Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip. Th...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 1, 2024 - Amidst a gathering of hundreds, tensions flared as both Pro-Israel and Anti-Israel protesters converged in front of Shomrei Emunah. However, Baltimore Police Department's careful planning, deploying 80 officers at the behest of Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, ensured the safety of the community. Notably, the Pro-Israel demonstrators maintained their presence longer than their counterparts, underscoring the depth of their commitment to the cause (and they enjoyed Azi Rosenblum’s DJing skills).
Deep gratitude to the Baltimore City Police for their exceptional and invaluable efforts in safeguarding the safety and welfare of the Baltimore Jewish Community.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 1, 2024 - Today, the annual Derech Chaim (Rabbi Pinchas Gross) matzah baking trip occurred in Lakewood, with nearly 20 men and 10 young men participating in baking matzos for several hours. The participants had the zechus of hearing a shmuz from HaRav Simcha Bunim Cohen, Rav of Khal Ateres Yeshaya in Lakewood.
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 1, 2024 - The tugboat Crystal Coast pushing a fuel barge, transited the temporary alternate channel created by the Key Bridge Response Unified Command, at 3 p.m., today and is the first vessel to use the channel since the bridge collapsed into the federal waterway on Tuesday.
The barge is used to supply jet fuel to the Department of Defense (DOD) and was transiting to Dover Air Force Base. The tugboat Crystal Coast pushes a fuel barge through the temporary alternate channel created by the Key Bridge Response Unified Command, near the Key Bridge incident, in Baltimore, Maryland, April 1, 2024. The Crystal Coast is the first vessel to use the channel since the brid...
Israeli diplomatic and defense officials have not commented on the air strikes near the Iranian consulate in Damascus on Monday, in which senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards official Mohammad Reza Zahedi was killed, but four Israeli officials acknowledged to The New York Times that Israel had carried out the attack.
According to the report, the strikes targeted a secret meeting in which Iranian intelligence officials and Palestinian Arab terrorists gathered to discuss the war in Gaza. Among them were leaders of the Islamic Jihad.
Syrian and Iranian state news agencies reported that at least seven people were killed in the strikes, including Zahedi.
Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, said in a statement that the consulate’s building came under att...
A federal judge in California ruled against Hunter Biden’s attempt to toss out his tax charges on Monday, letting the criminal case against the president’s son move forward.
The younger Biden faces three felony charges and six misdemeanor charges in connection to tax evasion, filing a false return and failing to pay taxes between 2016 and 2019. His attorneys argued last month that the case was politically motivated and tainted by two IRS agents who later became whistleblowers.
He filed eight separate motions to dismiss the charges, citing different legal rationale for each, all of which were denied.
Judge Mark Scarsi determined that the case was not political, shutting down Biden’s main argument by noting that Biden’s attorneys ...
Former President Trump posted a $175 million bond in his New York civil fraud case Monday evening, staving off the possible seizure of his assets while appealing a state judge’s ruling against him over deceitful business practices.
The bond, from the Knight Specialty Insurance Company, automatically bars New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) from collecting the $464 million, plus interest, judgment against Trump, his business and top executives while the appellate process moves forward.
Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump, the Trump Organization and top executives — including two of Trump’s adult sons — liable for fraud last year. In February, he ruled that they conspired to alter the former president’s net worth for tax an...
Sally Gerstein and her husband, Dr. Howie Gerstein, made Aliyah two years ago. Their son, Josh, a Ner Israel graduate, married to Devorah Kagan, a Baltimore Bais Yaakov graduate, also moved to Israel. Josh serves as a captain in the Israeli army and acts as a chaplain.
When the war broke out, Sally began writing a daily blog for herself and her friends. It gained immense popularity, with many in the States eagerly awaiting it every morning.
Some of you may recall Sally as the pioneer who introduced the kosher stand to Hershey Park and Dutch Wonderland. Wherever there's a cause or a need, Sally is there, front and center. Now, she requests all of you to sign the letter!
Please read on...
How can it be?
An initiative to garner 180,000 signatures on a letter to President B...
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 1, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Dovi and Shoshana Bernfeld on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Ronnie Samet
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 1, 2024 - President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Baltimore on Friday following last week's collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, announced White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday afternoon. The president plans to meet with state and local officials and gain an "on-the-ground look" at federal response efforts.
A senior diplomatic official expressed optimism that a deal to return the hostages held by Hamas is possible in the near future.
"If Hamas is interested in a deal - we can move forward. We have come a long way this time as well, there is potential for progress in the coming days," said the source.
Kan News reported that senior Israeli officials involved in the negotiations for the release of the hostages added that "the Israeli delegation in Cairo presented the mediators with a more up-to-date and flexible position regarding the return of the residents to the northern Gaza Strip."
Yesterday (Sunday), at the War Cabinet meeting, the ministers dealt with the question of Israel's flexibility in the negotiations and considered a compromise regarding the return of the residents of ...
Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 1, 2024 - Google for Startups Campus in Tel Aviv hosted a Women Leaders Summit by the Jerusalem Post on Wednesday night, March 26th. The startup pitches were impressive by talented and innovative women who founded or co-founded companies making a difference in the world.
Israeli Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamilel spoke in her newly appointed Knesset position.
Of all the impressive stories from the evening with the long list of accomplished women speaking was one of the heroes from October 7th. Sivan Mashiach, a rehabilitation physical therapist and a United Hatzalah volunteer paramedic for 24 years, was interviewed about her experience on Shabbat Simhat Torah on October 7th by Maayan...
Last week, we saw that human suffering results from man’s actions, rather than part of Hashem’s intention for His ideal world. This week, we will explore how man’s actions generate suffering.
Natural Consequence
Suffering is often a natural result of our actions.[1] Eliphaz makes this point in Sefer Iyov, where he explains that “man reaps what he sows.”[2] Like one who plants weed seeds and, therefore, harvests weeds, those who live dangerously ultimately experience the natural consequences of their behavior.
The gemara[3] teaches that “all is in the hands of heaven, except for common colds.” We are responsible for living healthfully. If we do not, we suffer the consequences. Smoking, overeating, and other behaviors damage our health, and ...
Syrian media reports that warplanes attacked near the Iranian embassy in the heart of Damascus and killed at least six people.
According to one of the reports, a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards official was killed in the attack.
The Iranian news site SNN NEWS claimed that the targets of the attack were the Iranian consulate and the ambassador's residence in Syria.
Last night the Syrian army announced that the Israeli Air Force attacked several positions in the Damascus area from the direction of the Golan Heights. According to the army, two civilians were injured and damage was caused.
Committed and In Love
There are books in the Torah that are more exciting than the book of Vayikra which we began reading recently. After the book of Bereshit, with its description of the creation of the world and the history of our patriarchs and matriarchs, followed by the book of Shemot, with its account of the dramatic events leading up to our departure from Egypt, we reach a book that primarily presents instructions regarding the sacrificial service in the Mishkan.
So why should we study Vayikra with the same passion we have for the other books? Because if you stay focused and engaged even when things are not so exciting or easy to comprehend, it demonstrates your sense of obligation to a higher value or purpose. In Vayikra, the Torah discusses matters that are not readily understan...
The Knesset this evening (Monday) passed Minister Shlomo Karhi's bill to shutter the Al Jazeera network's offices in Israel.
The law states that if the prime minister is convinced that a foreign news station is harming the country, the Minister of Communications, after receiving at least one security opinion and with the approval of the government or the cabinet, can take action against a foreign channel that acts against the country.
The bill was submitted and passed by the government in February in light of reports that one of the channel's "journalists" was a Hamas commander.
The journalist's Hamas affiliation was revealed after IDF forces in Gaza found his laptop computer in one of Hamas' bases.
The bill was passed in its second and third readings today.
M...
