Highly credible sources tell YWN that there is a meeting taking place right now (2:30PM Friday afternoon) at NYC Hall to address the recent attacks against Jews in New York City. Attending the meeting are Mayor DeBlasio, top NYPD officials, as well as leaders of major Jewish Organizations and congregations. Agudath Israel of America has tweeted that they will be holding a press conference outside City Hall at around 3:30PM. Attending the event are Rabbi David Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel of America, Mr. Sol Werdiger, Chairman of Agudath Israel’s Board of Trustees, Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, director of New York government affairs of Agudath Israel of America, Mr. Chaskel Bennett, member of Agudath Israel’s Board of Trustees and others.

More than two dozen people were arrested as pro-Israel and Palestinian demonstrators clashed in New York City’s Times Square and police were investigating the gang assault of a Jewish man as a hate crime, police said Friday. The melee on Thursday evening resulted in 26 arrests on charges including obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct and criminal possession of a weapon, according to city police. Also, the department’s Hate Crime Task Force said it was investigating the assault of a Jewish man in Times Square on Thursday evening. A video posted to social media purporting to show the attack shows a group of people striking and kicking what appears to be a person down on the street.

Eighteen electronic devices taken during raids last month on Rudy Giuliani’s home and his law firm in a probe of his dealings in Ukraine belong to Giuliani and employees of his firm, Manhattan prosecutors revealed Thursday. The previously redacted facts were disclosed when prosecutors re-filed an April 29 letter on the public record in Manhattan federal court. The raids occurred April 28. They disclosed that 18 electronic devices were seized in the search of locations belonging to the former New York mayor and private lawyer to ex-President Donald Trump and his firm, Giuliani Partners LLC. Prosecutors said the devices belonged to Giuliani and “certain employees” of Giuliani Partners.

The Teaneck Jewish Community is on edge due to a Palestinian protest happening this Shabbos. It began with a planned ceremonial raising of the flag of Israel that had been set for this weekend. It had been planned before the latest war between Israel and Hamas. But that event was postponed, due to threats of protest and outrage by anti-Semites on social media. In a statement released a few days ago, Mayor James Dunleavy said the township and council stand “resolutely in support of our Jewish residents” but have opted to postpone the inaugural ceremony to raise the Israeli national flag. But Palestinian activists have decided to still hold a protest – this one on Shabbos afternoon. The community is nervous, and rightfully so.

Demonstrations that brought out both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian supporters to midtown Manhattan on Thursday led to some tense confrontations, with police saying multiple arrests had been made. There was no information on the number of arrests or the circumstances, but video clips posted to social media showed some punches being thrown before police stepped in and created space and barriers between the two sides. Other videos showed what appears to be Hamas terrorists – dressed in Palestinian Kafiya’s and driving in the back of a pickup truck – in the nearby Diamond District, where Jewish store owners have had a longstanding presence. In one video, people could be seen scrambling to get some distance after an explosive device was lobbed at Jews.

Another video has emerged of Hamas terrorists in Manhattan on Thursday, when a Jewish man was beaten simply for being Jewish. Earlier, YWN reported of a gang of Hamas terrorists that drove through Manhattan’s Diamond District hunting for Jews. The pack of thugs were wearing Kafiya’s, and driving on the back of a pickup truck – reminiscent of a scene out of Gaza. One of the terrorists ignited some type of explosive device. Thankfully, no one was inured in that incident. Meanwhile, not a word from Socialist DeBlasio. In the (so called) safest big city in America, it’s open season on Jews. The silence is deafening. https://t.co/iE649LxfJz — Simcha Eichenstein (@SEichenstein) May 21, 2021   (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An Arab mob sparred with two Jews on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Wednesday, who turned out to be not only Israelis but former Golani IDF soldiers. It’s not clear what provoked the scuffle but one of the Israelis is seen in the video holding an Israeli flag. Policemen quickly arrived at the scene and fended the mob off and it appears from the video that the Arabs resorted to throwing objects at the Jews instead, namely shoes. At the end of the video, policemen are seen arresting one of the Israelis for unknown reasons but perhaps he threw the first punch. VIEWER DISCRETION NEEDED ON VIDEOS BELOW  Video of the attempted assault on the two Jewish men. pic.twitter.com/3iEIIHfupV — StopAntisemitism.org (@StopAntisemites) May 19, 2021 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

New York eased its mask and social distancing mandates again Wednesday, but people shouldn’t be throwing their face coverings in the garbage just yet. Masks are still required for everyone in many settings. Millions of unvaccinated New Yorkers still have to wear them in most public places. Private businesses can still set rules that exceed state requirements. Here’s a look at where the state rules stand: ___ WHERE ARE MASKS STILL REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE IN NEW YORK? New York is following federal guidance recommending that masks still be worn by everyone, whether they are vaccinated or not, in elementary, middle and high schools, on public transit and in homeless shelters, jails, nursing homes and other health care settings. ___ I’M VACCINATED! WHERE CAN I UNMASK IN NEW YORK?

A 32-year-old woman was killed in a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn while attending an outdoor vigil for an earlier shooting victim, police said. Shalimar Birkett, of Queens, was shot in the head at 11 p.m. Monday by someone who fired from a car, police said. She was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Birkett was at a vigil in the Brownsville neighborhood for 31-year-old Miles Bobbsemple, who died at a hospital early Monday after being shot in the chest. No arrests had been made in either shooting as of Tuesday morning. (AP)

Vaccinated New Yorkers can let go of pandemic restrictions like wearing masks or social distancing and “get back to life,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday as he announced a spate of moves heralding the state’s reopening. “If you are vaccinated, you are safe,” Cuomo said, speaking from Radio City Music Hall’s grand auditorium, where he said vaccinated audiences would soon be allowed back and also announced the return of the New York City marathon. After a delay of several days, Cuomo said the state is adopting new guidance on masks that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released last week.