The Second Circuit Court of Appeals just issued a ruling declaring that Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order restricting attendance at houses of worship “discriminates against religion on its face.” The United States Supreme had previously issued an injunction against the 10 and 25 person limitations imposed by Cuomo, pending the Agudah’s appeal. On December 18 — the last day of Chanukah – the Agudah’s appeal was heard by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The case challenged not only the 10 and 25 person limits but also the 25% and 33% capacity limitations as well. In a first-in-the-nation decision, the Court held that the 25% and 33% limitations on attendance at houses of worship are subject to strict scrutiny.

As Israel entered into its third lockdown on Sunday evening, the Knesset Education Committee approved a change to the lockdown conditions, allowing fifth through tenth graders to attend school. The original lockdown proposal called for only the younger grades and 11th and 12th graders to attend school but members of the Knesset Education Committee made a decision to heed the outcry of parents. The decision drew the ire of health officials, including Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, who decried the decision, saying it will only prolong the lockdown.

A 75-year-old man from northern Israel died of a heart attack about two hours after being vaccinated against the coronavirus, Israel’s Health Ministry confirmed on Monday afternoon. The man, a resident of Beit Shean, had a pre-existing heart condition and has suffered heart attacks in the past and was also suffering from cancer. Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Chezy Levy, who launched an investigation into the incident, said that an initial investigation doesn’t show a link between the man’s death and the vaccination. The man received the vaccination at a Clalit clinic at about 8:30 a.m. and as is required, stayed in the clinic for a short period of time afterward. When no ill effects were noted, the man was released to his home. A couple of hours later, he lost consciousness.

The Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, Hagaon HaRav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum tested positive for COVID-19, on Sunday night. The Rebbe is currently home and showing mild symptoms. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The post Satmar Rebbe Of Williamsburg Tests Positive For COVID-19 appeared first on The Yeshiva World.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, known for his provocative statements against Israel, said on Friday that Turkey is interested in improving its relations with Israel but its policy against Palestinians is a “red line.” Erdoğan added that if Netanyahu wouldn’t be the prime minister, then Turkey’s ties with Israel would be different. “We have problems with the Israeli leadership,” Erdoğan claimed. “If they [the government headed by Netanyahu], wouldn’t control the top positions, our relationship could be very different.” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev offered last week to serve as an intermediary between Israel after both played key roles in Azerbaijan’s recent victory over Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, Axios reported.

The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion, and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said Sunday. Investigators used DNA and other evidence to link the man, identified as Anthony Quinn Warner, to the mysterious explosion but said they have not determined a motive. Officials have received hundreds of tips and leads, but have concluded that no one other than Warner is believed to have been involved in the early morning explosion that damaged dozens of buildings. “We’re still following leads, but right now there is no indication that any other persons were involved,” said Douglas Korneski, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Memphis field office.

There has been much talk about a new wave of Covid, but many in the local area have not seen or experienced it directly and there is a dangerous complacency. Hatzola Northwest are now definitely seeing patients with new onset of symptoms, and the Covid-19 related call volume has significantly increased in the last 48 hours and is rising further as we write. Some of these patients are declining rapidly. From previously being relatively relaxed, the Royal Free, Whittington and Barnet hospitals now have sharply increasing numbers of patients being admitted in rapidly worsening clinical condition. THIS IS NOW A CRITICAL TIME. Tier 4 is real – THIS IS NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S PROBLEM – we ALL need to respect and adhere to the recommended government guidelines at all times.

The coronavirus infection rate in Chareidi cities has risen to alarming rates in recent weeks and health officials believe that the mutated virus variant originally found in the UK is the reason for the rise. Senior Health Ministry officials claim that the mutated virus made its way to Israel several weeks ago and is the reason for the rise in morbidity in the sector. Prior to the recent rise in infection, the Chareidi sector had the lowest infection rate since the beginning of the pandemic. The new variant is believed to be 70% more transmissible than the original variant. It was confirmed last week that at least one of the mutated virus patients was a resident of Bnei Brak. Dr.

The Peleg Yerushalmi is protesting in Bnei Brak on Sunday evening. Highway 4 is totally shut near “Coca Cola”, as hundreds protest the arrest of a Yeshiva Bochur last week who refused to go to the draft office to get his deferment. His father is a Magid Shiur in a Peleg-affiliated Yeshiva. Police have brought in water canons and police horses to try and disperse the protesters. The entire Bnei Brak is in gridlock now due to the protests. Arrests are reportedly underway. JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group.

Federal agents converged Saturday on the home of a possible person of interest in the explosion that rocked downtown Nashville as investigators scoured hundreds of tips and leads in the blast that pulverized city blocks on Christmas morning and damaged dozens of buildings. More than 24 hours after the explosion, a motive remained elusive as investigators worked round-the-clock to resolve unanswered questions about a recreational vehicle that blew up on a mostly deserted street on a sleepy holiday morning and was prefaced by a recorded warning advising those nearby to evacuate. The attack, which damaged an AT&T building, continued to wreak havoc Saturday on cellphone service and police and hospital communications in several Southern states.