Democrat Sam Sutton has emerged victorious in a closely watched special election for a seat in the New York state Senate, successfully holding off a Republican push to capture the traditionally right-leaning district, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ.
Sutton, a longtime nonprofit leader and businessman, defeated Republican challenger Nachman Caller, a lawyer who previously made an unsuccessful bid for the state Assembly ten years ago.
With this win, Democrats retain control of the seat vacated by Simcha Felder, who stepped down last month to assume a position on the New York City Council.

A moving ceremony took place Monday at Yad Vashem to mark the rededication of the towering 21-meter Pillar of Valor, which commemorates the bravery of those who fought against the Nazis. The event, held in advance of the upcoming Liberation and Rescue Day, was attended by leading rabbonim, government figures, diplomats, Holocaust survivors, and veterans.

Antisemitic flyers were scattered throughout the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh, and residents reported being subjected to slurs, marking yet another hateful incident in the same area that endured the tragic Tree of Life synagogue massacre in 2018.
According to Pittsburgh police, the offensive materials were tossed out of a moving car. The flyers were enclosed in small plastic bags weighed down with kernels of corn, making it easier to throw them from a vehicle while driving.
One flyer bore the message, “Every single aspect of the Jewish Talmud is satanic,” a phrase captured in a photo shared by county comptroller and Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Corey O’Connor.

The chareidi city of Charish is in turmoil following the recent arrest and criminal indictment of Mayor Yitzchak Keshet on serious charges—sparking renewed attention to a stark warning delivered four years ago by the raavad, Rav Yehuda Silman.

In a sweeping operation conducted by the Tel Aviv District Police’s central unit, five individuals were arrested Monday—including a resident of Bnei Brak and a member of a known crime syndicate—on suspicion of serious financial crimes. The allegations include large-scale money laundering, conspiracy to commit a felony, operating illegal gambling businesses, income tax violations, and running an unlicensed financial services operation.
According to police, the investigation was carried out by the unit’s Morality Division in collaboration with the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office (Criminal Division), the Investigation Division of the Insolvency and Economic Rehabilitation Commissioner, and the Israel Tax Authority’s Diamond Unit.

What initially appeared to be progress on Israel’s long-stalled chok hagiyus (draft law) has unraveled completely. A second meeting held Sunday between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, MK Yuli Edelstein, former minister Ariel Attias, and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs ended in failure, with both sides acknowledging that instead of moving forward, negotiations have deteriorated significantly.

In a heartfelt and inspiring message, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchonon, offered words of chizuk and encouragement to hundreds of people coping with speech difficulties.
In a rare and moving disclosure, Rav Zilberstein shared that as a child, he too had struggled with stuttering, describing himself during that period as k’vad peh and k’vad lashon. He reassured his listeners that, just as he overcame the challenge, they too would, offering a warm brachah to all those navigating similar difficulties.

London witnessed a scene unlike anything it had seen in decades, as thousands gathered for a massive Lag BaOmer celebration led by the noted mashpia, Rav Shmuel Shmelka Biderman.
The event, held on Friday afternoon of Lag BaOmer—just hours before Shabbos, which began in London after 8:30 p.m.—was organized by a group of young avreichim who sought to bring the entire kehilla together for a centralized hadlakah. It took place in the large courtyard of the Yesodey Hatorah school.

At his weekly shiur delivered Motzoei Shabbos, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Yitzchak Yosef issued a pointed critique of the current Israeli government’s stance on the military draft of yeshiva students.
Referring to the growing threat of arrest warrants for bnei yeshiva, Rav Yosef lamented the political alliance with the right-wing bloc, questioning the wisdom of continued support for those who now advance policies harmful to the Torah world.
“If we had gone with the left,” he stated, “things would have been much better. But instead we’re going with the right, clinging to the right—I don’t know what they saw in the right.”

On the eve of Lag Ba’omer, Rav Nachman Elchadad, father of the two brothers who tragically lost their lives in the Meron disaster of 5781, ascended to the beis hachaim in Meron to visit their kevorim.
The emotional visit marked four years since the passing of Moshe Mordechai and Yosef Dovid Elchadad, who were among the 45 victims of the terrible calamity that occurred during the hilula of Rashbi.
Family members joined Rav Elchadad at the bais hachaim, offering tefillos and remembering the beloved boys amid the atmosphere of mourning mixed with kedusha that envelops Meron each Lag Ba’omer since.