The recent visit to the U.S. by six senior roshei yeshiva from Eretz Yisroel not only marked an unprecedented moment in Jewish history, but also sparked an equally unparalleled revolution of American Jewry rallying to the support of the Lomdei Torah thousands of miles away in Eretz Yisroel through the newly established Keren Olam Hatorah. Over the course of the roshei yeshiva’s short trip, an astounding $83 million was raised from philanthropists in the tri-state area and Toronto. Of that figure, $14.8 million was raised in Lakewood, $13.3 million in Brooklyn, $12.4 million in Manhattan, $11.5 million in Deal, $9.9 million in the 5 Towns, $8.5 million in Monsey, and $6 million in Toronto.

Thousands attended the Levaya of Hagaon HaRav Moshe Wolfson Zt”l, the Mashgiach of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Flatbush, and Rov of the Emunas Yisroel Shul on 16th Avenue in Boro Park. The Levaya was held at Rav Wolfson’s Bais HaMedrash located in the Ezras Torah section of Yerushalayim. The Kevura was in Teveriya. צילום שלומי טריכטר – Photo via Shloime Trichter (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hagaon Harav Shmuel Kamenetzky shlit”a, the zkan roshei yeshiva of America, on Sunday evening traveled to the Adirei Hatorah maamad at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, marking his first appearance at a public event since suffering a stroke just over a year ago. The rosh hayeshiva’s appearance at the maamad despite the difficulties the trip entailed for him underscores his unwavering appreciation for talmidei chachomim and yungerleit, as well as his appreciation and support for the machzikei hatorah who support them. Rav Shmuel, 99, suffered a debilitating stroke in May 2023, just hours after attending the levaya of Harav Meir Hershkowitz zt”l in Lakewood. Since that time, the rosh hayeshiva has been undergoing rehabilitation and slowly returning to his regular schedule.

Photo Credits: Sara Heiney Prints of her work can be viewed and purchased here.

A massive Medura lit up the sky in Kiryas Joel on Wednesday evening, as tens of thousands of Satmar Chassidim joined their Rebbe, HaRav Aharon Teitelbaum, as they celebrated Lag Baomer. The event in Kiryas Joel is the largest individual Lag Baomer event and celebration in the United States. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The largest hadlakah on Lag B’Omer took place in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled under the leadership of the renowned mashpiah HaGaon HaRav Elimelech Biderman due to the closure of Meron for security reasons. The hadlakah began close to midnight on Motzei Shabbos, with tens of thousands streaming into the area, many on chartered buses from […]

Photo credits: Sara Heiney (sararaphotography@gmail.com)