As he does every year, HaRav Yaakov Bender, the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, New York, greeted the approximately 1,000 children arriving to Yeshiva today – the first day of the school year. With music playing in the background, Rabbi Bender embraces each child as they are his own children, infusing them with the love of Torah as they begin their new year.
The post INCREDIBLE! See How HaRav Yaakov Bender Welcomes Darchei Torah Talmidim On First Day Of Yeshiva appeared first on The Yeshiva World.

Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York on Tuesday, inheriting immense challenges as she takes over an administration facing criticism for inaction during Andrew Cuomo’s distracted final months in office. Hochul, a Democrat and former member of Congress from Western New York, took the oath of office just after midnight in a brief, private event overseen by the state’s chief judge, Janet DiFiore. A ceremonial swearing-in was planned Tuesday morning at the New York State Capitol, with more pomp than the brief, legally required event during the night. Hochul planned a public address at 3 p.m. “I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders and I’ll tell New Yorkers I’m up to the task.

The Roshei Yeshivos of seven Chabad yeshivos ketanos in Israel sent a letter last week to parents of their talmidim recommending that they refrain from sending their sons to 770 in Crown Heights for the month of Tishrei. It should be noted that the Chabad sector in Israel has been grappling with a high infection rate in the community. The Rabbanim wrote that although the advantages of traveling to 770 for Tishrei are well-known and normally the yeshivos encourage it, this year the coronavirus situation is difficult in Israel and around the world.

All New York City public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, officials said Monday, ramping up pandemic protections as the nation’s largest school system prepares for classes to start next month. The city previously said teachers, like other city employees, would have to get the shots or get tested weekly for the virus. The new policy marks the first no-option vaccination mandate for a broad group of city workers in the nation’s most populous city, though Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday that coaches and students in football, basketball and other “high-risk” sports would have to get inoculated before play begins.

Moving vans were at the governor’s mansion in Albany on Friday and workers were seen carrying out boxes and artwork as Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepared for his last day in office. The Democrat is scheduled to have a last full day as governor Monday, giving way to Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul at the stroke of midnight. Cuomo hasn’t said where he’ll be living once he leaves the Executive Mansion. He formerly had a residence in Mount Kisco, north of New York City, with the television personality Sandra Lee, but the former couple sold the home after they split up. Office of General Services spokesperson Joe Brill told The Associated Press the governor will need to vacate the state mansion by the time he leaves office.

YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden Petira of Dr. Joshua (Yehushua) Weinstein Z”L the founder of Shema Kolainu-Hear Our voices, a school and center for children with autism, who was suddenly niftar on Erev Shabbos in Yerushalayim after suffering a massive heart attack. The news came as a shock as Dr. Weinstein was as vibrant as ever and in the midst of his myriad activities on behalf of the community. Dr. Weinstein was the founder of various community based organizations including Shema Kolainu, Icare4Autism and most recently Emunas Bais Yaakov High School and was a bal tzedakah who cared deeply about every individual. As a respected member of the Ungvarer Beis Medrash for many decades, Dr.

NEW YORK – A man who fell about five stories while attending a Dead & Company concert at Citi Field has died, police say. The man apparently fell Friday night from one of the elevated sections of the park and was taken in critical condition to New York Presbyterian Hospital in Queens, where he died, police said in a release. Police said officers were summoned shortly after 9 p.m. to the location where the 46-year-old man was found after he had fallen. Citi Field in Queens is where the New York Mets play their home games. The investigation was continuing and the identity of the man was not released pending notification of family. (AP)

A Chabad House in Long Beach, NY, was vandalized and some Sifrei Torah stolen. According to a report by CHI, The Rov of the Shul – which was recently taken over by the Chabad House – went on Motzei Shabbos to make things were secure after Shabbos, and was shocked at the sight he was met with. “I found our beautifully renovated sanctuary vandalized, talleisim strewn on the floor, the holy ark broken off the hinges and a number of holy Torah’s stolen with two lying on the ground,” the congregant told CrownHeights.info. “Most of the sliver crowns were missing as well.” The Nassau County Police are investigating the incident.

Henri weakened to a tropical storm Sunday with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph but is still expected to wreak life-threatening havoc across parts of Long Island and Connecticut in the form of storm surges, flash floods and destructive winds. As of the National Hurricane Center’s latest update at 7 a.m., Henri was about 50 miles south of Montauk Point and moving north at 18 mph. Its maximum sustained winds remained near 70 mph and higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles from the center.

Henri intensified to a hurricane Saturday with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, threatening potentially deadly storm surges for Long Island, which is at risk of a direct hit from a Category 1 storm. Governors have issued a state of emergency for Connecticut and two dozen counties in New York. Although some weakening is expected prior to landfall Sunday, Henri is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength when it reaches the coasts of Long Island and southern New England. That is still expected to happen at some point Sunday either late in the morning or by early afternoon. Tropical Storm force winds (40-70 mph) will begin hitting eastern Long Island overnight with heavy rain following into Sunday morning.