BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — Three members of an Orthodox community in Buenos Aires were arrested for operating a mikvah, or ritual Jewish bath, after Argentina ordered all synagogues closed last Friday as part of a strict crackdown on gatherings to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The city’s lead prosecutor, Juan Bautista Mahiques, confirmed […]

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The following joint statement regarding Pesach was sent out by the Rabbinical Alliance of America, the Orthodox Union, Agudath Israel of America, the Rabbinical Alliance of America, Young Israel, and The lakewood Vaad. Rabbinic leaders and organizations across the Orthodox spectrum have, individually, declared the health threat presented by COVID-19 a […]

New York (AP) – Last Tuesday night in Tennessee, bluegrass musicians David and Virginia Blood were busy making sandwiches. In Pittsburgh, real estate agent Michelle Bushee was stirring a pot of homemade black-bean chili in her kitchen instead of shepherding curious buyers through potential dream homes. Marty Prudenti, whose nights are usually spent working backstage […]

ORANGE COUNTY (VINnews) — A Hasidic man who had an appointment at a Toyota Service Center in Orange County on Monday morning, was asked to leave without getting service. When he confronted them, pointing to the fact that he had an appointment, and they were clearly servicing other customers, he was told “because you are […]

NEW YORK (VINnews) — In light of the extensive spread of COVID_19 in the US, the Bobover Rebbe-45, Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger, has instructed his Chasidim not to set up private minyanim even if they maintain the requisite social distancing. The Rebbe addressed a letter to all Bobov-45 congregants in the Tri-State area, stating that: […]

NEW YORK (VINnews) — When Margaret Novins of Freehold, N.J. fell ill on March 8, it started with fatigue, a cough and fevers that brought on vicious chills for five evenings straight. A week later she went to an urgent care center and on March 16th to an emergency room, where she complained of difficulty […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Trump administration official said Sunday that illegal border crossings have dropped by half as the strictest U.S.-Mexico border policies yet went into place amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there was confusion about how it was all working. Anyone caught crossing the border illegally is to be immediately returned back to Mexico […]

TOKYO (AP) — A worldwide group representing Olympic hopefuls is calling on the IOC to postpone the Tokyo Olympics until the coronavirus pandemic is under control — a decision the IOC says could be as much as four weeks away. “As the world unites to limit the spread of Covid-19 virus, the IOC … must […]

ORANGE COUNTY (VINnews) — Dr Zev Zelenko has a calming message for young people who have contracted COVID-19.

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — A strong earthquake in Croatia on Sunday caused panic, the evacuation of hospitals and widespread damage including to the capital’s iconic cathedral — all amid a partial coronavirus lockdown. A 15-year-old was reported to be in critical condition and 16 others were injured, authorities said. The European seismological agency, EMSC, said […]