As YWN has reported, at least 16 women in Israel who contracted the coronavirus while pregnant are now critically ill, a phenomenon attributed to the British variant. Some of the women had their babies delivered by emergency C-section and the babies are also in serious condition. The women are all Chareidi as the British variant has rapidly spread through the Chareidi sector in Israel. Israel’s Health Ministry has recommended that pregnant women get vaccinated, a move approved by both HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein. Rav Elyakim Levanon, the director of Bonei Olam, and Prof. Adrian Shulman, the chairman of the Israel Fertility Association, visited the home of HaRav Chaim on Monday to consult with the Gadol HaDor about the situation. Prof.

The Senate tabled an effort by Sen. Rand Paul to force a vote on Tuesday on the constitutionality of former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, but the vote offered an indicator for support among Republican senators who have been sworn in as jurors for the trial. Paul’s motion was killed on a 55-45 vote, with five Republicans joining all Democrats, meaning 45 Republicans voted for Paul’s effort. The Senate then voted 83-17 to adopt the impeachment pretrial organizing resolution. The Senate will convene again for the trial on February 9 – two weeks from now. 67 votes needed to convict Trump, and more than 34 Republicans just voted to dismiss the trial. The trial will still occur, barely a month after the attack on the Capitol, but the outcome has been presaged.

Extremists in Meah Shearim attacked a Fox News crew on Tuesday. Photos of the crew’s vehicle with its windows smashed appeared on Israeli social media on Tuesday afternoon. A witness said he heard the rioters screaming “Kill them!” “It was terrifying,” he said. A photographer from another news outlet was also injured during the riot. Fox News team attacked by an ultra-Orthodox mob in Mea Shearim, Jerusalemhttps://t.co/A3kTTHOe4L — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) January 26, 2021 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

El Al subsidiary Sun D’Or International Airlines is halting flights on Shabbos, Globes reported last week. Although El Al doesn’t operate flights on Shabbos, until now its subsidiary Sun D’Or regularly flew charter flights on Shabbos. But according to the report, in recent days tourist agencies trying to book packages with Sun D’or  that include Shabbos flights have been informed that a change of policy regarding Shabbos flights has been implemented. The new policy is not surprising considering the acquisition of El Al by a frum Jew, Eli Rozenberg, in September. Furthermore, Israir Airlines was also recently acquired by Israeli supermarket mogul Rami Levy, who is Shomer Shabbos. Levy’s acquisition of Israir for NIS 162 million was recently approved by the Tel Aviv District Court.

Following the past few days of violent Hafganos around Chareidi neighborhoods in Eretz Yisroel, a statement was released by Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and Hagaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponavezh.

Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed 4,868 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with tests showing a positivity rate of 9.3%. There are currently 70,836 active virus cases, including 67,493 patients at home, 1,465 at coronavirus hotels, and 1,878 patients being treated at hospitals. A total of 1,140 patients are seriously ill and a record-high number of 358 patients are ventilated – the highest number since the start of the pandemic. The death toll has risen to 4,419. Dr. Alroy-Preis told the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Monday that an extended ban on international flights is the only way to battle the UK variant and buy time to vaccinate most of Israel’s population. “The decision to close Ben Gurion Airport for six days will not be enough,” she said.

The RCBC (Va’ad HaRabbanim of Bergen County) member rabbis of Englewood have signed on to support the formation of a Hatzalah division in the city. The squad will be led by veteran New York City Hatzalah and Englewood Hospital paramedic Joshua Hartman. Over the coming months, the group will begin their recruitment, training and fundraising efforts in the hopes of an operational launch date in mid-2021. They’ll serve as a first response squad which will support the efforts of the local 911 EMS ambulance agencies currently serving the city. Once live, they will be a local arm joining more than a dozen Hatzalah chapters across the state, including others presently working on launching in their local communities.

The appalling violence that took place throughout Israel on Sunday was fiercely condemned by Charedi Rabbanim and authorities. HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, the nasi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas stated that even being present at one of these clashes for a moment is completely assur and one who does so is a partner to a terrible Chillul Hashem that can never be atoned. “Lawless people create their own justice, clash with the police, riot and cause damage to people and property while seriously endangering other people’s lives, causing a terrible Chillul Hashem and besmirching all frum Jews,” HaRav Cohen wrote in a letter condemning the protests and violence.

The condition of Batsheva Baruch, a 28-year-old mother of three who was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 in her seventh month of pregnancy, has deteriorated, Kikar H’Shabbos reported. The cholah contracted the coronavirus about a week ago and began experiencing breathing difficulties. Her condition deteriorated on Thursday and she was evacuated to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem, where her condition was designated as serious. Recently she experienced a deterioration in her condition and the doctors increased her level of respiratory assistance. Her husband Kobi tearfully told Kikar: “We have three small children who need their mother and I course need my wife.

Bnei Brak Mayor Avraham Rubinstein, who himself was attacked by rioters on Sunday, warned on Monday that youths participating in vandalism in the city will be publicly shamed and will be swiftly turned in to the police. “In no way, will we accept as reality that a group of extremists will riot in the city and sow destruction…and anarchy,” stated Rubinstein on Monday.