Just yesterday the Socialist Mayor of NYC, the Honorable Bill DeBlasio, issued a “rare apology” to the Jewish community for the way the city has been responding, and said “we absolutely need a positive reset”. Keeping to his word, the Mayor has “reset” the out-of-control inspections in Boro Park and Flatbush. YWN is being inundated with reports that inspectors from the NYC Buildings Department are once again flooding the Jewish communities of Boro Park and Flatbush. Inspectors are not only visiting Yeshivas, but going into one business after the next, harassing businesses that are already on the verge of going out of business due to the COVID-19 pandemic On Tuesday evening, NYC Chaim Deutsch tweeted a video of a store owner (a deli) who was issued a summons for “having his door open”.

Walking around the commercial retail hubs of the Jewish Orthodox neighborhood in Brooklyn on Tuesday, an observer might surmise based on the enforcement action of government officials that the COVID-19 pandemic only affects Jews.
The post PHOTO ESSAY: Discrimination in Boro Park And Flatbush appeared first on The Yeshiva World.

At least 55 Chareidi coronavirus patients in Israel passed away in the past two weeks, comprising 11% of Israeli fatalities, a high percentage in comparison to the percentage of Chareidi older adults in Israel, Kikar H’Shabbos reported. A total of 33 niftarim were residents of Bnei Brak, 18 were residents of Jerusalem, 2 were from Modiin Illit, and one each from Beitar and Elad. Since the data was compiled according to identifiably Chareidi cities, it’s likely that there were additional Chareidi niftarim in cities with mixed populations such as Petach Tikvah, Netanya, and Ofakim as well. Furthermore, there are currently 57 Chareidim coronavirus patients in critical condition, with at least 20 of them under the age of 65.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that he will take “whatever measures are necessary” to thwart Iran from acquiring more weapons in wake of the expiration of the UN arms embargo against Israel’s archenemy on Sunday despite US objections. “We must be stronger and more determined than ever in light of the expiration of the arms embargo on Iran today,” Gantz stated. “Iran has never been just an Israeli problem but first and foremost a regional and global problem.” “As defense minister, I will continue to take whatever measures necessary, together with our partners, both old and new, to prevent Iranian expansion and armament. All countries should join this important effort.” Today is the day that the global arms embargo on Iran is set to expire.

On Tuesday, the IDF discovered a terror tunnel that was in the process of being dug from inside Gaza that penetrated into Israeli territory. The tunnel was discovered by special sensors that the IDF put in place throughout the Gaza periphery as part of the new protective barrier surrounding the strip that is being built on the Israeli side of the border fence. IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Hadi Zilberman told Israeli press outlets that “over the past few hours IDF forces have exposed an offensive terrorist tunnel that crossed into Israeli territory, but did not cross the barrier that is being established these days.” “The tunnel was still in the process of being built so at no point did it pose a danger to the surrounding towns.

Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed 1,479 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, reflecting a positivity rate of 3.7%. There are currently 23,347 active virus cases, with 636 seriously ill patients, of whom 233 are ventilated. There were 54 fatalities confirmed on Monday, raising the death toll to 2,268. The coronavirus cabinet is convening on Tuesday evening to decide on the next steps in the second stage in easing the nationwide lockdown following the initial stage which began on Sunday. According to the plan forged by senior health officials, each stage should last about two weeks to ensure that the lockdown exit isn’t overly hasty, driving up infection rates.

New York may have to consider changes to its quarantine rules for out-of-state travelers now that two of its closest neighbors, Connecticut and New Jersey, are on the brink of getting added to the list of places subject to the restrictions. The three states announced earlier this year that they would jointly require people traveling from states with higher rates of transmission to isolate themselves for 14 days after their arrival. About three dozen states are now on New York’s must-quarantine list. Both Connecticut and New Jersey were poised to join them based on the current threshold of targeting states averaging 10 or more new cases per day, per 100,000 residents, over a 7-day period.

Rosh Yeshivas Brisk HaGaon HaRav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik has contracted the coronavirus and is suffering from a lung infection. He is being treated with antibiotics and oxygen assistance at his home in Gush Shemonim in Jerusalem. The Rav has been feeling weak since Sukkos and he developed a lung infection, a hallmark symptom of the coronavirus. He was tested for the coronavirus and the results were negative but a subsequent test showed that he was positive. “The Rosh Yeshivah is at home and being treated with antibiotics and at times with oxygen,” one of the Rav’s relatives told Kikar H’Shabbos. “His condition is stable.

Inspectors from multiple city agencies are once again running around Boro Park, doling out hefty fines to Mosdos, Yeshivas and businesses. The Inspectors were armed with lists of only Jewish institutions and businesses, leaving many to question if this is should be a targeted attack against Jews. A photo of one of the lists was provided to YWN, after a local resident photographed it as it sat inside a city vehicle parked outside a Yeshiva. Notice not one non-Jewish institution is on this list. (Attached below) YWN can confirm through highly credible sources that at least one Yeshiva that is CLOSED had a fine plastered on their building today.

Hagaon HaTzaddik HaRav Aharon Chadash, the revered Mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir in Jerusalem, was hospitalized on Monday due to the coronavirus. HaRav Chadash, 92, began feeling unwell on Monday and following a decrease in his oxygen levels, his condition worsened and he was brought to Shaarei Tzedek. HaRav Chadash has been suffering from weakness and breathing issues in recent months (prior to the coronavirus pandemic) and walks around with an oxygen tank. He has also been hospitalized many times due to weakness. Nevertheless, despite his weakness, HaRav Chadash has been makpid to come to each and every tefillah at the Mir with great mesiras nefesh. The public is requested to daven for the refuah shleimah of HaRav Aharon Dovid ben Tzivya l’refuah shelimah b’toch shaar cholei Yisrael.