David Mintz, who was known for his invention of Tofutti, the first pareve ice cream substitute, as a solution for a dessert for fleishig meals, died on Wednesday at the age of 89, Collive reported. Mintz was born in Williamsburg and studied in Tomchei Temimim in his youth. He maintained his connection with the Lubavitcher Rebbe when he went into business and the Rebbe continuously supported him during his many years of experimentation to develop the first kosher pareve ice cream. When Mintz asked the Rebbe for a bracha to open a kosher restaurant on the Upper East Side, the Rebbe told him he would succeed if he was very careful with the kosher products he used, Minitz later told JEM’s Here’s My Story. The restaurant was extremely successful and he also offered takeout and catering.

The end of a joyous Purim Meshulash in Yerushalayim ended in tragedy, as a 47-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle, Sunday night. According to the latest information, it appears that a group of youngsters had blocked Shivtei Yisroel Street, and were harassing cars and blocking the road. Sources tell YWN that the group were specifically targeting Arab drivers, and were captured on video throwing bottles and stones at their vehicles. Eventually, the group attacked an Arab driving a shuttle bus. Viral video footage shows the crowd broke his mirror and were attacking his vehicle. A crowd eventually surrounded his vehicle, and eye witnesses say they attempted to light his car on fire and smash a bottle on the drivers head.

YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden Petira of longtime Flatbush Hatzolah Paramedic Yaakov Aryeh Hakohen (Gary) Lava Z”L, known in Hatzolah by his unit number “F-15”. Gary was one of the original Paramedics in Flatbush Hatzolah and trained dozens of Paramedics over the years as a seasoned instructor. He was a member of Hatzolah for around 30 years. Gary suffered a heart attack on Tuesday morning, and was Niftar shortly after. The Aron will be passing the Flatbush Hatzolah garage at 12:45PM for brief reciting of Tehillim (Ocean Avenue and Ave N) on the way to Kevura. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…

A 32-year-old pregnant woman passed away of the coronavirus on Motzei Shabbos at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem after doctors exerted intensive efforts to save her. Sadly, although doctors delivered her 30-week-old baby via emergency C-section in an effort to save him, the baby died as well. The nifteres, Osnat Ben-Shitrit, z’l, of the Har Shmuel neighborhood of Jerusalem, was hospitalized last Tuesday due to respiratory distress caused by the coronavirus. Her condition quickly deteriorated and she suffered from multisystem organ failure.

Efrat Berner, a’h, 19, who got married only four months ago, was hit by a car and killed by a Palestinian driver at the Yitzhar junction in the Shomron on Tuesday night. Efrat, a’h, a resident of Yitzhar, was crossing the street when the car – driving from the direction of Shechem – hit her with great force, propelling her in the air, killing her immediately. Emergency forces at the scene could do nothing but declare her death. The nifteres left behind her husband, the son of HaRav Giora Berner, the Rav of the kehilla, a Rosh Yeshiva in Rechovot and Nasi of a Kollel in Givat Assaf, her parents, and ten siblings. “This is a terrible tragedy,” said Yossi Dagan, the head of the Shomron Regional Council. “A young girl, a kallah with her whole life ahead of her – it’s beyond understanding.

Mrs. Raizel Shoshana Ovitz, a’h, an Auschwitz survivor whose photo of her 104th birthday at the Kosel surrounded by 400 of her descendants went viral, passed away at Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital on Monday morning at the age of 105. The nifteres, a’h was a respected and beloved member of the Viznitz chassidus in Bnei Brak. As YWN reported in Ausgust 2019, hundreds of Mrs. Ovitz’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren traveled from around the country to join her for her birthday at the Kosel to thank Hashem for the past and daven for the future. "שלום סיון. סבתא שלי, שושנה אוביץ, שרדה את אושוויץ. מול עיניה ד"ר מנגלה לקח את אמא שלה. אחרי המלחמה פגשה את סבא דב, שאיבד במחנות את אשתו וילדיו. הם התחתנו ועלו לחיפה. היא עבדה כתופרת ועזרה לו בניהול החנות.

HaGaon HaRav Chaim Meir Wosner, z’tl, Av Beis Din of Zichron Meir in Bnei Brak, was niftar on Sunday at the age of 82 after being hospitalized in serious condition for the past two weeks in Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital due to the coronavirus. When the bitter news arrived, the paroches in Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin in Bnei Brak was removed, where the Rosh Yeshivah was marbitz Torah and yiras Shamayim for many years. The niftar was born in Vienna, Austria to his father, the Posek HaDor HaGaon HaRav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, z’tl, the Ba’al Shevet Levi. As a toddler, HaRav Chaim Meir’s parents escaped the Nazis to Eretz Yisrael prior to World War Ill and he was separated from them for six years.

B”DE: 24-year-old Eliyahu Miltzky, passed away in Tel Hashomer’s Sheba Hospital on Tuesday after he had suffered a heart-attack last Motzei Shabbos in his home. Miltzky, who was a well-renowned talmid chacham and avreich from the Or HaChaim neighborhood of Bnei Brak, was in good health when all of a sudden he suffered a spontaneous heart attack that left him in serious condition. He was treated at the scene by United Hatzalah volunteers and Magen David Adom ambulance teams and rushed to Tel HaShomer where the best doctors in the country fought to save his life. People from all over the world prayed for his health and speedy recovery, but it was not meant to be. Eliyahu was the son of HaRav Reuven and Chaya Zisel Miltzky and came from a long line of Rabbonim and community leaders.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Rabbi Dr. A.J. Twerski – beloved author, Talmid Chacham, and psychiatrist. He was Niftar after contracting COVID-19 last week and had been hospitalized in a a hospital in Eretz Yisroel. He was 90. Rav Twerski has authored more than 60 Seforim and books, and is a world-renowned expert on addiction who has helped thousands over the years. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE PUBISHED WHEN IT BECOEMS AVAILABLE TO US. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagaon HaRav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik ZATZAL, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk. He was 99. The levaya will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, beginning from the niftar’s home on Eli HaCohen 17 and pass by the nearby Yeshivas Brisk on the way to Har Hamenuchos. The Rosh Yeshivah contracted the coronavirus in October and after initially being treated at home, was hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem after his condition worsened and was subsequently sedated and ventilated. He was released to his home in early December, where a private ICU unit had been set up. His condition continued to deteriorate, until his Petira early Sunday morning.