As reported by YWN earlier this week, a disturbing video surfaced showing two individuals on a motorcycle swiping a yarmulke off the head of a Jewish man crossing a Staten Island street. The footage, initially shared by Staten Island Shomrim, captured the brazen act, with the riders speeding away after their offensive behavior. The Shomrim group posted the video on X (formerly Twitter), calling on the public to assist in identifying the suspects. “Help us apprehend these individuals. Wanted for a despicable act of pushing a Kippah off a Jewish man’s head,” their statement read. They urged anyone with information to contact the NYPD’s 121st Precinct Detective Squad or the Shomrim hotline.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman It was an extremely emotional levaya because he was so beloved. The levaya began with essah ainay. Then mimaamakim Rav Moshe Brown shlita spoke first.

The IDF announced that two soldiers were killed in combat this morning in the northern Gaza Strip. The fallen soldiers were identified as: Captain Yogev Pazy, 22, from Giv’ot Bar, who served as a platoon commander. Staff Sergeant Noam Eitan, 21, from Hadera. Both soldiers were members of the Kfir Brigade’s Nachshon Battalion. The IDF reported that another soldier from the same battalion sustained serious injuries during the incident and is currently receiving medical treatment. The IDF expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting them during this difficult time. Further details about the circumstances of the incident that caused the deaths were not immediately disclosed. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman Rav Leib Bakst zatzal (1918-2004) was an Alter Mirrer who was an outstandin

An Israeli airstrike in central Beirut targeted a building in the Ras al-Naba’a neighborhood, killing Hezbollah’s media relations chief, Mohammed Afif. The information was confirmed by two Lebanese security sources to Reuters. The strike, which occurred outside Hezbollah’s traditional stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, marks a significant shift in Israel’s targeting strategy. The densely populated Ras al-Naba’a neighborhood is not typically associated with Hezbollah activity, making the attack particularly striking. According to the sources, the IDF carried out the operation without issuing any prior evacuation warnings, a move that deviates from its usual protocol in such strikes.

The IDF sent 1,000 of 7,000 draft orders to Bnei Yeshivos on Sunday following Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara’s order last week. The Chareidi Yated Ne-eman newspaper published a front-page article reiterating the instructions of the Gedolim to bnei yeshivos to ignore the draft orders. The article stated that bnei yeshivos “should act according to the instructions in HaGaon HaRav Landau’s letter and as was clarified in a chizzuk talk at Yeshivas Mir: ‘The matter is clear.

Three Israelis were arrested overnight Motzei Shabbos for firing flares at the private home of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Caesarea on Motzei Shabbos. The three suspects are anti-government anarchists, including a senior IDF reserve officer who is one of the leaders of the protests against Netanyahu in Caesarea. Ynet reported that according to the investigation, the suspects launched the flares from dunes on the beach near Netanyahu’s home. The flares that were used are designed to be used by naval vessels as distress signals. All three suspects were reportedly well-known anti-Netanyahu activists and will likely face multiple criminal charges, including arson.

The IDF on Sunday morning announced that an IDF soldier was killed in battle in the northern Gaza Strip. He was named as Sgt. First Class (res) Idan Kenan, H’yd, 21 from Ramat Gan. He fought in the Kfir Brigade’s 90th Battalion. He was killed by a Hamas sniper on the outskirts of Jabaliya, near Beit Lahiya. His death increases the death toll of IDF soldiers since the start of the war to 796. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Reb Dovid Pitterman Z”L. He was approximately 74. The Niftar was one of the original first 5 members of Flatbush Hatzolah (known by his unit number “F-8”),  when it was founded in the Mirrer Yeshiva. He was an active member for around 50 years, responding to emergency calls until just a few years ago. He saved thousands of lives over the decades. Reb Dovid was the son of Reb Moshe, who was an “Alter Mirrer”, and grew up in Boro Park, where his father was a fixture of the famed “Mirrer Minyan”. He learned in Bais Medrash in the Mirrer Yeshiva, under Hagaon HaRav Shmuel Brudny ZT”L and other Gedolim in the Mir.

It is with deep regret that YWN informs you of the petirah of Harav Refoel Yehoshua Halevi Kalish zt”l, a mammoth talmid chochom, beloved rav of the Harborview Bais Medrash in Lawrence, NY, and longtime R”M at Yeshiva Derech Ayson in Far Rockaway. He was around 80 years old. A musmach of Bais Medrash Govoha, Rav Yehoshua zt”l, inspired countless others simply by his example. An extraordinary masmid – known for finishing Shas yearly and a gemara being with him at every waking moment – he exuded the air of a true ben torah, thereby influencing those around him to increase their limud hatorah and maximize every moment they had. He also delivered many shiurim every week, including daf yomi at Shaarei Tefillah of Lawrence. Levaya details will be published when they become available.