Bochurim, young couples, and families across the U.S. are scrambling to find flights back to Eretz Yisroel following Pesach—and many are finding themselves stuck. With El Al flights virtually booked solid on all the prime travel dates, travelers are facing mounting difficulty in securing affordable and direct options to return to yeshiva and their homes. YWN has received multiple reports of travelers resorting to creative—and often complicated—workarounds, including multi-stop itineraries through various European and Middle Eastern countries. Alarmingly, some of these itineraries pass through destinations known to be less than friendly to Jewish passengers, posing potential concerns for safety and comfort, particularly for visibly frum travelers.

New York State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein introduced legislation at the State Legislature that would amend a discriminatory NYC Department of Sanitation regulation that unfairly penalizes New York City’s Jewish community. Last year, the NYC Department of Sanitation enacted a rule requiring residents to place their trash on the curb after 8:00 PM in an effort to combat the city’s rat problem. However, this rigid policy ignores the needs of religious New Yorkers who are prohibited from handling trash on Shabbos. As a result, many residents have been subjected to steep fines of $50-$300 simply for observing their faith. “This policy is unacceptable and must come to end,” declared Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein.

A high-level White House investigation has revealed that The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a confidential group chat about planned U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, after National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally saved the journalist’s phone number under a senior official’s contact, according to a report published Sunday by The Guardian. The mishap occurred last month when Waltz, intending to add National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes to a secure Signal chat discussing strikes on Houthi rebels, instead included Goldberg.

Nearly 7,000 Jewish voters in New York City have newly registered as Democrats since January — a surge that could have a huge influence on the outcome of June’s high-stakes mayoral primary and pose a challenge for far-left candidates seen as soft on antisemitism. According to the Jewish Voters Action Network (JVAN), 6,695 Jewish voters have joined the Democratic rolls in recent months, including more than 4,130 who switched from Republican, independent, or other party affiliations. An additional 2,564 are first-time registrants. “We think this registration drive is a big deal. Jewish voters are a sleeping giant in New York politics,” JVAN founder Maury Litwack told the NY Post. “And they are awake. Jews are showing up to play. We’re not ignoring this election.

A Virginia man who spray-painted “Hamas is coming” on a federal monument outside Union Station during a riot tied to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit has been sentenced to 10 days in prison and six months of supervision, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced. Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, pleaded guilty to destroying government property, a federal misdemeanor, after admitting he defaced a statue, tore down an American flag, and scrawled an inverted red triangle—a symbol used by Hamas to mark targets—on July 24, 2024. His actions were part of a violent demonstration outside the historic transportation hub, held during Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress.

In preparation for the upcoming Pesach holiday, COJO of Staten Island held a security and community coordination meeting with leadership from the NYPD, FDNY, Staten Island Shomrim, Hatzolah, the Department of Sanitation, and the NYC Mayor’s Office, focusing on the safety and logistical needs of the Jewish community. NYPD Assistant Chief Melissa Eger of Patrol Borough Staten Island assured community leaders that there is currently no credible threat. The NYPD is actively monitoring developments on both a national and global scale and stands ready to respond as needed. Chief Eger also acknowledged the ongoing leadership and communication efforts of COJO Security Chairman Ari Weiss, with whom she remains in constant contact.

The IDF announced Monday it had eliminated Hassan Abdel Fattah Mohammed Eslaih, a Hamas terrorist and former employee of CNN and the Associated Press, in a targeted airstrike in Khan Yunis. Eslaih, a member of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade, was not only a combatant in the terrorist organization — he was also a photojournalist with a global portfolio, previously accredited by some of the world’s largest media outlets. Eslaih actively participated in the October 7 massacre, infiltrating southern Israel and sharing graphic footage of the attacks in real time on social media. “This was not a journalist covering conflict,” an IDF spokesperson said.

Israeli security forces on Monday received intelligence information indicating that a terrorist was making his way from the Shomron toward Tel Aviv to carry out a terror attack. A high-speed chase took place, and police and Shin Bet forces stopped a vehicle as it approached Route 1 via Route 6 on Monday afternoon. A search of the vehicle revealed nine Palestinians who had entered Israel illegally, including the terrorist who was armed with an assault rifle. The suspects were arrested and transferred for questioning.   (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman In February 2013, the papers and library of Chaim Grade, a once ben bayis by the Chazon Ish zt”l, comprising twenty thousand volumes, were jointly acquired by the National Library of Israel and YIVO Institu

An unprecedented security failure has been exposed at the Tel Nof and Chatzerim air force bases, Kol Yehudi reported on Monday. Detailed maps of the bases, which included the locations of officers’ family residences, building entry codes, and sensitive operational areas, were transferred by an IDF project officer to an Arab worker via WhatsApp. According to the report, the worker, who did not hold any security clearance, entered the base together with another worker, who also lacked clearance, with the approval of the base commander. The two wandered freely around the base, including areas that are supposed to be off-limits to outsiders.