YWN regrets to inform you of the petirah of Rav Shlomo Zalman Singer zt”l, the beloved rosh yeshiva and founder Yeshiva Ner Boruch – Passaic Torah Institute (PTI). The rosh yeshiva, who impacted thousands throughout his half-century in chinuch and harbotzas torah, was 90 years old. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1933, Rabbi Singer’s journey reflected the growth of Jewish America. Raised on New York’s Lower East Side, he was a neighbor and talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, later continuing his learning under Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l in Lakewood. In 1966, he moved to Passaic, where he became a chazzan and rebbi, eventually founding PTI in 1996.

Syrian rebel leader and the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Golani, said on Saturday that the new government in Syria is not interested in entering into a conflict with Israel. Golani made his first public comments about Israel’s airstrikes in Syria in an interview with the opposition TV channel Syria.tv. “The situation in Syria, worn out from years of fighting, does not allow for new conflicts,” he said.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem made a televised speech on Saturday and said that the terror group’s arms supply route through Syria has been severed due to the fall of the Assad regime, Reuters reported. In his first comments since the Assad regime fell last Sunday morning, Qassem, said: “Yes, Hezbollah has lost the military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this loss is a detail in the resistance’s work.” “A new regime could come and this route could return to normal, and we could look for other ways,” he added. Regarding the rebel groups currently ruling Syria, Qassem said that Hezbollah “cannot judge these new forces until they stabilize” and “take clear positions”, but said he hoped that the Lebanese and Syrian peoples and governments could continue to work together.

The Hamas terror group fired rockets at southern Israel shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday, triggering sirens and causing Israelis to run to their bomb shelters in the Gaza border area, Ashkelon and Sderot. About 40 minutes later, sirens blared again after Hamas fired additional rockets. Two rockets that crossed into Israel were intercepted by the IDF. The IDF responded to the attacks later on Friday night by carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting the terrorists at the launch site as well as weapons storage facilities. On Motzei Shabbos, the IDF spokesperson said that the rockets were launched only 50 meters away from an active international aid warehouse in Gaza.

President-elect Donald Trump is exploring options to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program, including potential military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Sources within Trump’s transition team have indicated that discussions regarding military options have gained momentum. The talks are influenced by Iran’s weakened regional standing due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, the fall of Tehran’s ally President Bashar al-Assad, and Israel’s actions against Hezbollah and Hamas, two Iranian-backed proxy militias. Recent reports about Iran’s expanding nuclear activities have further accelerated these deliberations. Trump has expressed concern about a potential Iranian nuclear breakout during his presidency.

A Jewish resident of Monsey was tragically killed and another man was seriously injured in a small plane crash on Thursday night. The plane, a two-seater propeller aircraft was approaching Westchester Airport when it crashed onto Interstate 684 near Exit 2 in Harrison, New York. Troopers responded to reports of the crash at approximately 7 p.m. There were two individuals aboard the plane at the time of the incident. The victim was identified as Yankel (Yaakov) Friedman Z”L, from Monsey. He was 32 years old. The second individual on the plane, a resident of Linden NJ, was taken to Westchester County Hospital. Despite multiple messages on WhatsApp claiming he is in critical condition, he is stable and talking to authorities as well as his family members.

A massive fire erupted at a home on 1838 E 4th Street between Quentin Road and Kings Highway on Thursday afternoon, quickly spreading to two neighboring houses and turning the block into a scene of chaos. The blaze began around 2:15 PM in a home that was reportedly vacant and under construction. Within minutes, strong winds fueled the flames, transforming the fire into a raging inferno. The intensity of the blaze caused the roof of the original house to collapse. The FDNY initially feared that firefighters were trapped inside, but it was later confirmed that all personnel were safe. In response to the dangerous conditions, all firefighters were immediately pulled from the building. Emergency services were on high alert, with Flatbush Hatzolah standing by to assist if needed.

In a striking address to the Iranian people delivered on Thursday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke directly to the citizens of Iran, highlighting the failures of their government and expressing hope for a future of peace and freedom in the region. Netanyahu began by reflecting on the recent collapse of regimes and organizations financially and militarily supported by the Iranian government. “Your oppressors spent over $30 billion supporting Assad in Syria,” he said. “Today, after only 11 days of fighting, his regime collapsed into dust.” He pointed to similar defeats in Gaza and Lebanon, where Hamas and Hezbollah suffered devastating losses. The Prime Minister criticized Iran’s rulers for mismanaging national resources.

Efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages are gaining momentum as Hamas has reportedly agreed to two major Israeli conditions, Arab mediators revealed to the Wall Street Journal. The developments mark a potential breakthrough after months of stalled negotiations, raising the possibility of hostages being released within days. For the first time, Hamas has signaled it would accept a deal allowing Israeli forces to temporarily remain in Gaza during a ceasefire. Additionally, the group has provided a list of hostages it is willing to release, including U.S. citizens. This marks a big shift in Hamas’s position, which previously rejected these demands. The proposed plan, backed by the U.S.

President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and is pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. It’s the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The commutations announced Thursday are for people who have served out home confinement sentences for at least one year after they were released. Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread. At one point, 1 in 5 prisoners had COVID-19, according to a tally kept by The Associated Press. Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review clemency petitions.