At least 164 doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in Israel contracted the coronavirus after refusing the vaccine, Channel 12 News reported on Wednesday. A total of 66 medical professionals at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan contracted the virus, 18 at both Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem and Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Haifa, 17 at the Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod, and 13 at the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. The report stated that only 70-90% of medical professionals in Israel were vaccinated, with doctors more likely than nurses to take the jab. The government is pushing legislation to make vaccination mandatory for medical workers and other workers who come into contact with the public.

On Thursday night, February 18, the Israeli cabinet approved the extension of the ban on entry and exit to and from Israel. The ban will now remain in place for an additional 14 days, through March 6. Certain leniencies are expected to be introduced in the coming days. The government has already announced that 2000 passengers will be permitted to enter Israel each day. It remains to be seen how this policy will be carried out. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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NYC Mayoral Candidate Andrew Yang caused a firestorm on Thursday, when he made comments in favor of Yeshiva education in New York City. Taking questions over Zoom for the “New York Jewish Agenda”, the candidate was asked about Yeshiva education which has been under attack for the past few years. The following is his response: “When I looked at the Yeshiva question, the first thing I wanted to see, was what were the outcomes. What is the data. I don’t  think we should be prescribing our curriculum, unless the curriculum can be demonstrated to have improved impact on people’s career trajectories and prospects afterwards”, Yang said. “If the school is delivering the same outcomes, I do not think that we should be prescribing rigid curriculum.

Firefighters were on the scene of a working structure fire in Monsey, Thursday afternoon. The iconic “Motty’s Supermarket”, located at 19 Main Street appeared to be totally destroyed in the fast moving blaze, which started at around 12:37PM. Flames had fully engulfed the structure in just minutes. There did not appear to be any injuries, as firefighters braved the snow and cold to fight the blaze. Rockland Chaveirim as well as Hatzolah were on the scene. VIDEOS BELOW CHAVEIRIM OF ROCKLAND (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) came under fire on Thursday when footage showed him jetting off to Cancun, Mexico as his state faced a devastating power grid failure amidst a historic snow storm. The Senator released a statement saying he was only escorting his daughters who wanted to take the vacation and he would be immediately returning to Texas. “With school cancelled for the rest of the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon. My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas. We want our power back, our water on, and our homes warm.

Residents of Jerusalem woke up on Thursday morning to a rare sight, the capital city blanketed in snow, the first time since 2013. Snow fell overnight throughout the country from the north to the south, with some areas receiving heavy rain and powerful winds. Some parts of Jerusalem had an accumulation of up to 15 centimeters (six inches) of snow, according to the municipality. The municipality worked tirelessly to clear the roads, and public transportation, which stopped in the city on Thursday night, was able to resume early Thursday morning, with the light rail beginning operation at 7 a.m and buses at 8 a.m. Schools that are currently in the session were delayed until 9 a.m. The main highway into Jerusalem, Route 1, was closed overnight but reopened on Thursday morning.

Another winter storm will bring a fresh blanket of white across New York City, New Jersey, and other parts of the Tri-State. A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for parts of New Jersey. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for New York City, Long Island and other areas close to the city. The snow arrived just after dawn Thursday, with a pause Thursday night then continuing with snow and a wintry mix overnight through Friday midday. Moderate to heavy snow is expected during the first part of the storm. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are possible. The best chance for 6 inches of snow or more is interior New Jersey. A widespread of 5 to 9 inches is expected across the Tri-State. Here is the latest update on the long duration snowfall event expected today into tomorrow.

The FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office started an investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes amid the ongoing pandemic, according to reports. Cuomo has been slammed in the last week with accusations that he covered up New York’s nursing home death toll. Families on Wednesday called for a federal probe. The state’s reported death toll ballooned from around 9,000 – a number that excluded nursing home residents who died of coronavirus at hospitals – to just over 15,000 after a state attorney general report. According to The Times Union, the probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York is in its early stages.

As Purim approaches, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein called on Roshei Yeshivah to keep close tabs on their bochurim over Purim. “It’s appropriate this year, more than any other year, that Roshei Yeshivos make sure that the bochurim remain in the yeshiva on Purim and learn and not make rounds to homes at all and not during the Seduah either [to collect funds].” “It’s appropriate to add to our limmud Torah on Purim – this the only zechus that will protect us from the coronavirus. And if there won’t be more infections, summer z’man will be able to begin without any restrictions.” “The days of Purim are mesugal to merit Kabbalas HaTorah and higher levels of ruchniyus.

A Rosh Kollel with many branches throughout Israel approached Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, chaver Motetzes Gedolei HaTorah, to ask him a shaila regarding those who choose not to vaccinate, B’Chadrei Chareidim reported. This Rav’s Kollelim are very makpid on shemiras sedarim and he told the Rosh Yeshivah with great pain on the tremendous amount of Bittul Torah during the winter zeman due to many avreichim contracting the coronavirus and others being required to enter quarantine. The Rav wanted to know what he should do ahead of the upcoming summer zeman regarding avreichim who don’t want to vaccinate. Can he require that the avreichim vaccinate as a condition for remaining in the kollel?