Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani has reportedly met with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and told them to “prepare for a proxy war”, as tensions continue to soar between Tehran and Washington.
According to the report, the Baghdad meeting was a key factor in the US decision to recall all non-essential government staff from Iraq over an “imminent” threat from Iranian-linked militias.
Tensions between the US and Iran have boiled over recent weeks, with Washington accusing Tehran of preparing attacks against American interests in the region — reportedly based in part on Israeli intelligence.
Read more at i24NEWS.

An Asbury Park man has been charged with passing counterfeit money at the Gourmet Glatt kosher supermarket in Lakewood, police said Thursday.
Police were called Wednesday after a cashier at the store realized a man was attempting to pay for his items with what was believed to be a counterfeit U.S. $100 bill, the police department said. The cashier told the responding officer that the suspect tried to assault him before running away.
Upon looking at security footage, the police were able to apprehend Irwin Greene, 48, a man with several outstanding warrants who is now facing multiple charges in connection with the counterfeit bills. Greene is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending additional charges.

The Leshem
Rav Shlomo Kanievsky is a scion of Torah royalty, tracing his lineage back to renowned spiritual giants. Rav Shlomo, who is a son of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlit”a  and a grandson of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, is named for his great-great-grandfather, Rav Shlomo Elyashiv zt”l, known as the Leshem for his written work titled Leshem Shevo Ve’achlamah.
 
Born in Zager, northern Lithuania, on leil Shabbos, 12 Teves 5602/1841, the Leshem was a son of Rav Chayim Chaykil Elyashiv.
 
It is said that during her pregnancy, the Leshem’s mother constantly saw a bright light in front of her, indicating that she would give birth to a baby who would grow to become a holy and righteous individual.
 

Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau on Thursday called for Shabbos to be extended by 20 minutes in response to the expected chillul Shabbos caused by the Eurovision song contest.
“Due to the great desecration that will take place on the upcoming Shabbos because of the Eurovision song contest, I ask each and every person to refrain from doing work 10 minutes before lighting candles [to mark the start of the Sabbath] and ten minutes after the end of the Shabbos,” Lau said in a lecture in the central city of Modiin.
“We will extend the kedusha of Shabbos and add from the regular to the holy,” he said. “This desecration is taking place before the eyes of the world.”

The committee in charge of the “Great March of Return” demonstrations in the Gaza Strip cancelled weekly protests set to be held Friday in light of hot temperatures outside and “to provide a break to citizens, who held a large protest two days ago.”
The cancellation of the Gaza protests come on the second Friday of Ramadan, during which time Muslims fast and abstain from drinking water during daylight hours.
It is only the second time that the weekly demonstrations, held with the backing of Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas, have been cancelled since they began in March 2018.
Read more at i24NEWS.

The man suspected of stabbing a Jewish woman in Sweden did not commit a hate crime, targeting her randomly amid a psychiatric crisis, his mother said.
The 29-year-old man, who has an extensive criminal record for assault, was released from 12 days at a psychiatric institution one day prior to the attack Tuesday in Helingborg, in which he delivered near-fatal blows to an older Jewish woman from the local community.
“This does not have anything to do with religion,” the suspect’s mother told Expressen. Though neither she, her son nor the victim have been named, initial reports indicated that the attacker was Muslim.
A local Muslim umbrella group condemned the condemned and called for a show of solidarity with the Jewish community of Sweden.


Simcha Leiner presents another incredible A Capella track for Sefira entitled NAFSHI.
Nafshi Originally recorded by Ishai Ribo and Motti Steinmetz became a household song in just a few months. Now its available to listen to all year round!
Available for streaming and downloading – May take a few days to process
Google Play – http://bit.ly/2Q5mNdw
Itunes – https://apple.co/2W5kegN
Apple Music – https://apple.co/2WaUa3O
Spotify – Coming soon.
Produced and Arranged by Craig Resmovits and Mordy Weinstein for MC Productions
Artwork by Yoni Weiss of Designed in Brooklyn
Mixed and mastered by Ed Boyer

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