Nineteen frum Jewish women who were blocked from boarding a flight from Amsterdam to the U.S. last summer have sued, alleging they were discriminated against. The girls were preparing to board the second leg of a trip from Ukraine to the U.S. via Amsterdam on Thursday, August 5th after visiting mekomos kedoshim in Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine, when they were told they cannot board over eating outside of designated mealtimes on the first leg of the flight. The mealtimes were the only time that passengers were allowed to remove their masks on the flight.

The deadly car accident on Tuesday in southern Israel, in which a truck overturned onto cars, left 21 children orphaned. The victims of the crash were Tzipi Shimoni, a’h, a 38-year-old resident of Moshav Sde Uziyahu and a mother of ten children, the youngest only two months old; Matanya Ayubi, a’h, a 30-year-old resident of Moshav Even Shmuel and a father of three, the youngest only a month old; and Fantanesh Obenach, a’h, a 40-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli resident of Kiryat Malachi and a mother of eight. Six injured victims of the accident are still hospitalized, with one, a 60-year-old man, in critical condition and the others, two men in their 20s and three women in their 60s, in moderate condition.

A spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday claimed that Israeli “mercenaries” are fighting in Ukraine together with the Azov battalion, a far-right Ukrainain military unit with neo-Nazi roots, in a further escalation of the Russian rhetoric against Israel which started with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comment that “Hitler had Jewish blood.” After Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned Lavrov’s statements, Russia’s Foreign Ministry escalated the conflict by claiming that Israel supports “the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine,” and the ministry’s spokeswoman continued with that line in an interview on Wednesday. “I’ll say something that Israeli politicians won’t want to hear,” Maria Zakharova said on Russia’s Sputnick Radio.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was in an apoplectic rage Tuesday afternoon as she practically yelled at reporters about her anger over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. “I am angry,” she said while on her way to join a pro-abortion protest outside the Supreme Court. “Angry and upset and determined.” “They have been out here plotting, carefully cultivating these Supreme Court justices so they could have a majority on the bench who would accomplish something that the majority of Americans do not want,” Warren said. “I am angry,” she said again at the protest. “I am here because I am angry, and I am here because the United States Congress can change all of this! Angry, but committed.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Volunteer EMTs from Hatzolah of Los Angeles came under fire on Shabbos as they were treating a patient near a shul on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, California. Hatzolah was called for a patient suffering a medical episode at the shul when an unrelated fatal shooting at a marijuana dispensary located near the shul occurred. The shooting suspects, panicking at the sight of emergency vehicles rushing to the area, began firing at Hatzolah members on the scene. Thankfully, none of the Hatzolah members were hit, and the suspects fled the scene. A 30-year-old was subsequently found by LAPD officers shot to death at the dispensary. Police are now searching for 6 suspects and are requesting assistance from the public. “All of a sudden we hear like five gunshots, bam! bam! bam! bam!

Following the announcement on Monday of a massive recall of Elite chocolate products after salmonella was discovered in the factory’s production line, there were a number of reports on Tuesday of cases of suspected salmonella poisoning. A Jerusalem woman was treated on Tuesday for possible salmonella poisoning and was released home after being treated with antibiotics and fluids. The woman said that she ate a large amount of chocolate on Monday morning [before hearing about the recall] and began developing symptoms overnight.

Meron project manager Tzviki Tessler on Tuesday presented the outline for this year’s Lag B’Omer at Meron, an event that will be celebrated in the shadow of last year’s searing tragedy. Lag B’Omer falls out this year on Wednesday night, May 18, and Thursday, May 19. Entry to Meron will only be permitted by purchasing travel tickets in advance which will also serve as an entry permit to the site. Those who drive to Meron in private cars will also be required to buy a ticket for the final stretch between the parking lot and the site. Arrival at the Meron site itself will be limited to buses and designated shuttles, which will allow the police to know at any given moment how many people are at the site.

In an alarming indication of the new anti-Semitism – the demonization of Israel – a recent survey of US and Israeli Jewish millennials shows that over a quarter of US Jewish millennials distance themselves from Israel and their Jewish identity to fit in with their friends. Sadly, 23% of Jewish millennials said that they were forced to hide their identity due to the anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses, and an even higher number – 28% – say that the anti-Israel sentiment on campus has damaged their relationships with friends. Furthermore, 28% reported that the anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses has resulted in questioning their own commitment to Israel.

HaRav Binyanim Povarsky, the son of Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh HaGaon HaRav Baruch Dov Povarsky, is in critical condition and in need of great Rachamei Shamayim. Rav Binyamin, who has been sick with cancer, was transferred from Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem to the ICU in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv on the last day of Pesach, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. A large tefillah gathering was held on Sunday at the home of the Rosh Yeshivah in Bnei Brak, during which he added the name Refael to his son’s name. Rav Binyamin, 61, lives in the Maalot Dafna neighborhood of Jerusalem and serves as the Rosh Kollel of Keter Torah in Ramot. The public is asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Refael Binyamin ben Leah b’toch sha’ar cholei Yisrael. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Many Toldos Avraham Yitzchak chassidim were seen in their shteibel in Mea Shearim over Chol Hamoed with a new short shtreimel, B’Chadrei Charedim reported. The phenomenon began over two months ago when the Rebbe, who is apparently not pleased by the tall shtreimilach currently in style, asked his chassidim to purchase shtreimilach that are no taller than 5.11 inches high. The shorter shtreimilach are more similar to what was worn in the past, which were shorter and wider than what is popular now. It remains to be seen whether the shorter shtreimilach will become widespread or remain limited to a small group within the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak chassidus.