MK Moshe Gafni threatened on Thursday morning that his party would rather go back to the hustings and fight another election than back down on its demands for mass military service exemptions for yeshiva bochurim.
UTJ rejected a draft charedi enlistment law drawn up by a Defense Ministry committee convened by Yisrael Beytenu leader and former defense minister Avigdor Liberman during the last government, which led in part to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolving the Knesset and calling early elections.
Liberman for his part has stated following the election that he will not accept “even one comma to be changed” in the draft law, setting up a head-on collision between him and the charedi parties during the negotiations to form a new government.

Nine Months to the Siyum HaShas
Lomdei Daf Yomi are celebrating the completion of Maseches Chulin, inching their way closer to the 13th Global Siyum Hashas of Daf Yomi, slated for January 1, 2020 at Metlife Stadium.
The study of this 142-blatt masechta began on November 29, 2018, and concluded on April 18, the day before Erev Pesach 5779, a period of almost five months.
Daf Yomi has now commenced Maseches Bechoros, the first of the final six masechtos in the cycle.

Rav Gershon Edelstein spoke during his weekly shiur about the results of the elections and the kiddush Hashem involved.
However, Rav Gershon said, “we have not yet fulfilled our obligations, because there is a huge number of our Jewish brothers who need support. They’re not happy, and they’re missing the happiness in life that Torah-observant families who keep Torah and the mitzvos, Shabbos, Torah, and tefillah – all these things bring happiness and spiritual enjoyment, and there are people who lack them! There are many who lack a happy life, and we need to feel pity for them.”

After threatening to fine or even close yeshiva schools and daycare centers that allowed unvaccinated students amid the measles outbreak, 23 sites have now been fined and shut one in Williamsburg. CBS2’s Andrea Grymes reports.
WATCH:

http://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/802_3725_2.mp3

by Rabbi Yaakov Klein
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov relayed the following mashal for Pesach.

An Aeroflot flight to Israel from New York via Russia was canceled without the airline informing the passengers, who were delayed for seven hours at the airport.
Behadrei Haredim reported that the families received notice that they had no way to reach their destination the Passover holiday, which begins on Friday night. Their only option is an alternative flight with El Al in the evening at a price of $2,000 per ticket, far less than the company is willing to reimburse the stranded passengers. According to the company the plane experienced a technical failure and cannot take off.
Read more at Arutz Sheva.
{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Refoel Dovid Shonek z”l. He was 30 years old.
R’ Dovid was a walking miracle, having undergone a double lung transplant and endured numerous medical nisyonos that were beyond comprehension. R’ Dovid battled with remarkable emunah and bitachon, being mechazeik all those who wished to strengthen him.
R’ Dovid, who lived in Lakewood and served as a rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah, was a choshuve ben Torah and ben aliyah, and a devoted son, father and husband. As one adam choshuv said, R’ Dovid was purified by the tribulations he underwent.
R’ Dovid is survived by his wife, his children, his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Shonek, and numerous friends and admirers who will miss him dearly.