The IDF has confirmed that its forces gained control of the Gazan side of Rafah Crossing on Tuesday morning, and the crossing is now under full IDF control.
"Following intelligence that indicated that the Rafah Crossing in eastern Rafah was being used for terrorist purposes, IDF troops managed to establish operational control of the Gazan side of the crossing," the IDF reported. The DIF added: "On Sunday, mortars were fired from the area of the Rafah Crossing toward the area of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, as a result of which four IDF soldiers were killed and a number of other soldiers injured."
During the operations, the IDF's Division 162, Brigade 401, and Givati Brigade took control of the crossing with the aid of other forces.
Thus far, 20 terrorists have been eliminated in the ...
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) became the first elite institution to scrap diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) statements from its faculty hiring process.
On Sunday, the school confirmed to UnHerd that it was removing a requirement that mandated all prospective faculty submit a diversity, equity and inclusion statement during the hiring process. A university spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "requests for a statement on diversity will no longer be part of applications for any faculty positions at MIT" and added that the decision was made by the school’s president, Sally Kornbluth, with the support of the Provost, Chancellor, and all six academic deans.
"My goals are to tap into the full scope of human talent, to bring the very best to MIT, a...
The New York Times has confirmed that on Monday night, the Hamas terror group proposed a counteroffer for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal, and did not "agree" to the deal approved by both Israel and the US.
Nevertheless, the counteroffer - though not deemed acceptable - was seen by the US as a sign of progress.
The New York Times stressed that Israel's strikes in Rafah were "retaliation for Hamas rocket attacks that killed four Israeli soldiers," and a way to pressure Hamas, but did not constitute the strike that US President Joe Biden was warning against.
Biden is still insisting to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a ground invasion on Rafah "is a terrible idea," Mara Rudman, a former deputy Middle East special envoy under President ...
Israeli officials have claimed that the Biden administration knew about the changes made to the ceasefire-prisoner swap deal offered by Egypt and Qatar to Hamas, but failed to inform Israel of the changes before Hamas announced that it had "accepted" a ceasefire, journalist Barak Ravid wrote on Axios.
Ravid quoted a senior US official as denying the reports, claiming, "American diplomats have been engaged with Israeli counterparts. There have been no surprises." He also described the process as "extremely difficult."
According to the official, the US believes that Israel has been negotiating in good faith, and that the April offer was "the most forward leaning proposal to date. To secure a ceasefire, Hamas simply needs to release hostages. It's all mapped out."
The Biden admin...
Strengthening Others in a Big Way
Eden is the sister of IDF Sergeant Roi Dawy, who fell in battle in Gaza. She made sure that everyone who passes through the entrance of Jerusalem will see this huge billboard with a message from her brother: “Just be strengthened from everything.”
Eden shared that when she contacted the Mega Media company to order the billboard, they unexpectedly offered to give her the first two days free of charge. “My hope is to find a way to keep the message up until after Yom HaAtzmaut!” she said.
Post-Pesach Inspiration
“My Seder was nothing special and I was irritable and stressed out during the entire holiday. I feel like I missed Pesach.”
After reading this message, I was reminded of a quote I once heard:
“Our...
Baltimore, MD - May 6, 2024 -
STAR-K Updates Baltimore's Kosher Dunkin’ Chart. Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable version.
Israeli forces are planning to capture the Palestinian Arab side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza in the next few hours as Israel pushes forward with its military operation in the southern Gaza city, two sources with direct knowledge told Barak Ravid of Axios on Monday night.
The Rafah crossing is a main entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza and Israel says the eastern part of the city is a strategic site for Hamas.
IDF troops plan to control the Palestinian Arab side of the crossing and monitor all aid coming into Gaza, a source with direct knowledge told Axios.
The source added that Israel believes taking over the Rafah crossing will eliminate Hamas' main ability to show it is still ruling Gaza.
In the coming days and weeks, Israel wants Gazans wh...
Baltimore, MD - May 6, 2024 - Last minute, no frills, Tehillim for the current situation in Eretz Yisrael starting at 6:00PM tonight! Please spread the word!! If you haven't joined us yet, tonight is the perfect opportunity to start!
Topic: Tehillim Army MONDAYTime: May 6, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/86341230329?pwd=TjSkrIIEx5mfSw1y2Ab8EExMOPPadV.1Meeting ID: 863 4123 0329Passcode: 111---One tap mobile+13017158592,,86341230329#,,,,*111# US
Twelve Republican Senators, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), addressed a letter to International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan warning him of the consequences the ICC will face if it issues arrest warrants for Israeli officials over Israel's response to the Hamas massacre of October 7, Politico reported.
In the April 24 letter, the Senators wrote that such warrants against Israeli officials would be "illegitimate and lack legal basis."
The letter accused the ICC of "attempting to punish Israel for taking legitimate actions of self-defense against their Iranian-backed aggressors."
"These arrest warrants would align the ICC with the largest state sponsor of terrorism and its proxy," they stated, adding that the ICC is prohibited from intervening due...
Baltimore, MD - May 6, 2024 - Salvage crews within the Key Bridge Unified Command continue to prepare for the complex task of removing the large piece of bridge lying on top of the M/V DALI.
Prior to removing the bridge piece, salvage teams must meticulously analyze and factor in numerous hazards and obstacles resulting from the bridge's impact. Crushed containers, hull damage, and weight shifts are among the critical considerations crews must address during the bridge removal and refloating operation of the ship.
Key Bridge Unified command salvors begin preparing for the removal of bridge section four, which lies across the bow of the M/V DALI. The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command priorities are to ensure the safety of the public and first responders, account for ...
Beitar Elite, Israel - May 6, 2024 - Leah Kaufman was a nine-year-old Romanian Jewish girl who survived the Holocaust by being hidden during a death march to Transnistria in the cold and with little food or shelter.
She typically shares her story with local responders on Yom Hashoa. However, this year, she was unable to do so. In a touching gesture of respect and honor to commemorate this day, Mrs. Kaufman is surrounded by her two sons and grandchildren.
Kaufman's story is told in the book Live! Remember! Tell the World!: The Story of a Hidden Child Survivor of Transnistria
Rav Yoseif Kaufman is a director in Bezri/Yad Eliezer, a large charitable group in Israel.
Jerusalem, Israel - May 6, 2024 - The War Cabinet this evening (Monday, 6 May 2024), unanimously decided Israel will continue its operation in Rafah, in order to apply military pressure on Hamas so as to advance the release of our hostages and achieve the other objectives of the war.
While the Hamas proposal is far from meeting Israel's core demands, Israel will dispatch a ranking delegation to Egypt in an effort to maximize the possibility of reaching an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel.
The Prime Minister's Office announced this evening (Monday) that the War Cabinet voted to proceed with the military operation in Rafah following Hamas's claim that it had accepted a ceasefire deal.
"The War Cabinet unanimously decided that Israel will continue the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas in order to promote the release of our hostages and the other goals of the war," the Prime Minister's Office said.
At the same time, although the Hamas proposal is far from the minimum necessary for Israel, the Israeli government will send a delegation to Cairo to exhaust the possibility of reaching an agreement under conditions acceptable to Israel.
At the same time, the IDF confirmed that the military has begun attacking terrorist targets in Rafah in a "ta...
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as well as his captivating presentation style, have attracted a diverse and beloved following. He lectures at numerous local institutions, including Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary, as well as out of town and online. Rabbi Sklare received semichah and his PhD in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College. He can be reached at rabbisklare@gmail.com.
The United States has voiced its opposition to the proposed Rafah offensive by Israel, expressing grave concerns about the potential humanitarian impact on the over one million Palestinians residing in the area.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller delivered the statement, emphasizing that the U.S. has yet to see a credible and implementable plan to safeguard the lives of civilians in Rafah.
Miller asserted, "The U.S. will not support the Rafah offensive currently envisioned by Israel." He underscored that the proposed offensive would exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian people and lead to a significant increase in civilian casualties.
"Such an offensive would dramatically increase the suffering of the Palestinian people," Miller remarked.
Furthermore, Mi...
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged the Columbia University Board of Trustees on Monday to remove school President Minouche Shafik from her role.
The speaker's push comes in response to Columbia’s cancellation of its main commencement ceremony, which followed weeks of protests against the university’s investments in companies perceived as helping Israel in its war against Hamas.
“Because it is abundantly clear that President Shafik would rather cede control to Hamas supporters than restore order, Columbia’s Board of Trustees should immediately remove her and appoint a new president who will,” Speaker Johnson said. “Our once great universities desperately need strong moral leadership, now more than ever.”
The univer...
Baltimore, MD – May 6, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yael and Sam Goldstein on the birth of a daughter.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - May 6, 2024 - What started here with a few tents and signs seen at Johns Hopkins University last week has now grown to upwards of 70 tents and countless signs, some saying the rhetoric is ramping up.
JHU leaders are preparing to meet with protesters to end the encampment on campus.
The student group behind the encampment says they are ready to come to the table with university leaders and talk about their proposal.
“Just because we’re pro-Palestinian doesn’t mean that we want other people to die,” one protester said. “So we’re all here. We encourage everyone from the community to come. We welcome people to actually have conversations with us. If you guys have questions, we’re more than happy to answer. And if...
The Hamas terrorist organization announced this evening (Monday) that it has decided to agree to a ceasefire proposal.
The terrorist organization's announcement states that "Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke with the Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and with the head of Egyptian intelligence Abbas Kamel and informed them of Hamas's agreement to the ceasefire proposal."
The announcement comes after days in which the terrorist organization dragged its feet announcing its decision on the issue.
Kan News reported that an Israeli source stated, "This is a deception by Hamas. Right now we are not taking Hamas' answer seriously. This is an answer to a one-sided Egyptian proposal. First we will receive Hamas' answer and study it."
Is...
