For the first time since the elections, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir went up to Har HaBayis on Tuesday morning to mark the fast of Asara B’Teves in a visit that was delayed several weeks due to security concerns and the threats of the Hamas terror organization. Ben-Gvir coordinated the visit with the police and arrived at the site under heavy security, including his personal bodyguards and police officers. Ben-Gvir said during his visit: “Our government will not surrender to the threats of Hamas. Har HaBayis is the most important place for Am Yisrael.

A highly anticipated matchup between the Bills and Bengals was temporarily suspended Monday night after Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Hamlin took a big hit in the chest area on a tackle in the first quarter of Buffalo’s game on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin got hit by Bengals receiver Tee Higgins as Higgins ran upfield after a catch. Hamlin got up, then suddenly collapsed. Reporters at the stadium said Hamlin was given CPR on the field. More than 15 minutes passed from the time Hamlin collapsed to when he was taken off the field.  

As YWN approaches it 20th anniversary as the largest news platform catering to Frum Jews on the globe, we will begin polling our hundreds of thousands of readers about various issues for the public to see. The polls are found on the homepage just underneath the top stories, and will change weekly. Our first poll was done as a test last week, and the question was geared towards Jews in the NY/NJ region asking if they were planning on taking their children to Florida for mid-winter vacation. 3,698 people responded to the poll. 3112 said they were not. 586 said they were.

Last Sunday evening, Zos Chanukah, at the United Palace Theater in Manhattan last Sunday evening, Zos Chanukah, the large crowd welcomed to the stage with wild cheering Israeli sensation Ishay Ribo, dressed in his trademark dark gray shirt, strumming a simple acoustic guitar, his eyes closed in fervent devotion, singing his original compositions of Hashem’s praises. “Such a freezing night in New York City,” Ribo said. “And yet, despite the cold, we have come together to celebrate tonight in warmth and unity.” Pictures, Video.

The New Year’s Day 2023 holiday fell on a Sunday this year, and because of that, many businesses and government offices observe Monday, Jan. 2 as the official holiday. Post offices will be closed on Monday, which means mail and packages won’t be delivered by the United States Postal Service. Packages from other delivery services could also be impacted. Most FedEx services are open on Jan. 2. Meanwhile, most UPS services are closed on Monday with some limited UPS Store locations open. The Federal Reserve is observing New Year’s Day on Jan. 2, which means most banks will be closed. Banks are not required to close on federal holidays, but many do. Check your local branch before visiting. All federal offices will be closed. However, at the state government level, some may still be open.

Exiled Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt has warned Jews in Russia to leave the country before they are made into scapegoats. Rabbi Goldschmidt made the comments in an interview with The Guardian, citing growing anti-Semitism and a deteriorating political climate in Russia as reasons for his warning. Goldschmidt, who fled Russia in 2019 amid threats to his safety, argued that Jews in the country are at risk of being used as a convenient target for those in power to distract from larger problems. “When we look back over Russian history, whenever the political system was in danger you saw the government trying to redirect the anger and discontent of the masses towards the Jewish community,” he said.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on Sunday evening visited the Kosel along with Kosel Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz and Western Wall Heritage Foundation Director Mordechai Eliav, to mark the swearing-in of Israel’s 37th government. Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “I just wrote in the book: ‘The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.’ (הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל). I have summarized the two continuing actions that I have taken upon myself both yesterday and today.” “We will continue to do this on behalf of the citizens of Israel, the State of Israel and the Land of Israel,” he proclaimed.

Former President Donald Trump is very angry at Fox News for having pushed him to the side, saying that it has lost his “MAGA base” and that the network would get a ratings boost if only they spoke about him more. “Wow!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “So while Trump Hating CNN & MSNBC (MSDNC!) RATINGS are both at record lows, numbers that they have never seen before (“they’re toast”), Fox News Ratings are also way down because they never say “Trump” or TRUTH, never talk about the Rigged Presidential Election, and is a Fake Polling Network. Our giant MAGA base, much bigger than anyone knows, does not like watching Fox play their games. Their Ratings will continue to sink.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Motzei Shabbos responded to the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly on Friday night requesting that the International Court of Justice (ICC) discuss Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation” of Yehudah and Shomron and Jerusalem. “Just like the hundreds of distorted UN General Assembly resolutions against Israel over the years, today’s disgraceful resolution will not obligate the Government of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “The Jewish people are not occupying its land and is not occupying its eternal capital Jerusalem.

A terrifying – and nearly tragic – incident unfolded in front of 76 Twin Avenue in Spring Valley on Sunday when a child found an unattended loaded .22-caliber gun and pointed it at another child in jest. As reported by the Monsey Scoop, a group of children were waiting for their school bus to arrive Sunday morning when one of the children found a gun. Thinking it was a toy, he began playing with it – including pointing it at another child. B’chasdei Hashem, the trigger was not pulled. The mother of one of the boys who happened to be outside noticed what was going on and immediately sprang into action, telling the child to drop the gun and move away from it, averting a potential tragedy. Chaveirim of Rockland were called to the scene, who in turn called in the Ramapo Police Department.