The Department of Police Investigations (DIP) opened an investigation into a disturbing incident that occurred shortly before Pesach when Attorney Yissachar Dov Frenkel, 38, a resident of Mea Shearim, left his home to bring food and medication to his parents who were self-quarantining at home. Frenkel was violently attacked by two Border Police officers, thrown to the ground and kicked. The Border Police were in the neighborhood to enforce Health Ministry directives but Frenkel hadn’t violated any directives. Frenkel is not a typical Toldos Aharon chassid due to the fact that he is a top attorney, in the past working at the office of senior attorney Yaakov Weinrot, z’l, and currently working in the office of senior attorney Boaz Ben Tzur.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagaon HaRav Mendle Rabinowitz ZATZAL, the Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Keren Hatorah and head of Yeshiva K’tana of Lakewood. He was 70-years-old. The Rosh Yeshiva had been hospitalized in critical condition from COVID-19, and was Niftar on Tuesday afternoon. The Niftar took over as Rosh Yeshiva of Keren Hatorah after the Petira of his brother, Hagaon HaRav Moshe Z”L around 4 years ago. The loss of the Niftar is a tremendous to the Lakewood community. Additional information will be published when it becomes available to us. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

United Hatzalah CEO Eli Beer arrived in Israel on Tuesday afternoon and was greeted by hundreds of United Hatzalah members. Dozen of United Hatzalah ambulances, ambucycles and most importantly the volunteers themselves stood by to greet him. Beer shared an emotional greeting with his family members, who haven’t seen him for four months due to his prolonged fundraising trip before he contracted the coronavirus in Miami.

Antibodies from the plasma of recovered coronavirus patients have been administered to 33 Israeli coronavirus patients, Times of Israel (TOA) reported. Eilat Shinar, the head of MDA’s blood services, told the TOA that between 30 percent and 40% of patients who received the antibodies have shown improvement, especially moderate patients. Patients in more serious conditions have shown improvement in specific areas such as blood pressure, respiratory function, and kidney function. However, Shinar emphasized that no firm conclusions about the efficacy of the antibodies can be drawn yet since the numbers are so small and there is no control group. But she added that doctors are encouraged by the fact that none of the patients deteriorated after receiving the antibodies.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly in “grave danger” following a surgical procedure, CNN and Reuters reported Monday evening. The dictator underwent a cardiovascular procedure, state media indicates. Rumors began to swirl about Jong-un’s health after he did not attend a anniversary event for the birthday of its founding father and Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sun. “My understanding is that he had been struggling (with cardiovascular problems) since last August but it worsened after repeated visits to Mount Paektu,” Daily NK reported. Breaking: The US is monitoring intelligence that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s health is in grave danger following a surgery, a US official with direct knowledge tells me. — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 21, 2020 DEVELOPING STORY

The attached videos are just some of the wonderful news that unfortunately gets drowned out is the avalanche of bad news. Bichasdei Hashem, many people have been released from the hospital, and many more are scheduled to be released. The following videos are just a sample of some of the good news. The first video was taken on Monday afternoon in Chicago, when Hatzalah Dispatcher R’ Yisroel Saacks returned home – after he was on a ventilator for three weeks. The following video is R’ Shia Frankel of Boro Park as he arrived home from the hospital, where he had once been listed in critical condition from COVID-19. The following video is R’ Nesanel Fried (Lakewood) returning home from the hospital where he was in critical condition.

A US judge has found Grafton Thomas, charged in the anti-Semitic stabbing of 5 people – one who later died – in a Monsey Shul suffers from mental defect rendering him unable to assist in his defense. Judge Cathy Siebel wrote in a decision made public Monday that Grafton Thomas be committed to a treatment facility for no more than four months to determine if “in the foreseeable future he will attain the capacity to permit criminal proceedings to go forward against him.” “The defendant is suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent he is unable to assist properly in his defense”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz have signed a deal to form a unity government in which they would share the premiership under a rotation agreement. This news comes after three elections and 17 months of election campaigns and coalition negotiations. The deal between Netanyahu’s Likud Party and former military chief Benny Gantz’s Blue and White ends months of political paralysis and averts what would have been a fourth consecutive election in just over a year. After March 2 elections ended in a stalemate, the two leaders agreed late last month to try to form an “emergency” unity Cabinet to cope with the burgeoning coronavirus crisis. Ending weeks of negotiations, the sides announced a deal on Monday.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagaon HaRav Aryeh Leib (Leibel) Katz ZATZAL. He was approximately 75. Rav Katz was Niftar from COVID-19. The Niftar prepared thousands of Chasanim for their weddings with his classic Sefer Ohel Aryeh (among many others). He was a well-known Posek, as he led his Shul “Zichron Yosef” in Boro Park for decades. His Sefer Ohel Aryeh is one of the best known seforim on the all-important halachos of Taharas Hamishpachah. He was a Talmid Muvhak of Hagaon HaRav Yaakov Kaminetzky ZATZAL. Additional information to follow. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As physicians who are שומרי תורה ומצוות and on the frontlines of the active COVID-19 pandemic, we implore all fellow Jews to continue strict adherence to isolation guidelines WITHOUT exceptions. Our Jewish communities require unique consideration and are at higher risk for rapid disease transmission. We live in close knit, multigenerational and interconnected communities with frequent overlapping contact in our religious commitments and in our neighborhoods, shuls, schools, and shops. הלכה has never looked towards government guidelines alone as a measure for נפשות סכנת. Government guidelines consider political factors, financial impacts, and enforcement capabilities.