Channel 14 News journalist Yinon Magal posted a video on Wednesday of an 81-year-old “atheist” putting on tefillin for the first time in his life. The power of a mitzvah is seen at the end of the video when the Jews breaks into tears after donning the tefillin and reciting Shema, also for the first time in his life. The spark of the pintele Yid is inside even the most distant of our brothers. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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Israel’s President Herzog speaks to Congress on Wednesday in an appearance aimed at demonstrating what he calls the “unbreakable bond” between Israel and the United States. Isaac Herzog becomes the second Israeli president, after his father, Chaim Herzog, to address Congress. The speech is meant to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Israel’s statehood, and to reaffirm the U.S.-Israeli relationship. A number of progressive Democrats, however, announced last week that they would boycott Herzog’s speech in part as a protest against Israel’s policies towards Palestinians. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET. Watch the live video below.

A dramatic incident unfolded on Tuesday evening as an overturned vehicle caused chaos on East 15th Street between Avenue K and Avenue L in Flatbush. Emergency personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to assess the situation and provide necessary assistance. Both Flatbush Hatzolah and EMS were called upon to tend to the injured. Only one person in need of medical attention. The FDNY was requested to extricate the victim from the overturned vehicle. Sources close to the investigation have disclosed to YWN that the driver of the overturned vehicle was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident. In response to this serious offense, the NYPD promptly arrested the driver.

In a shocking display of bigotry, far-right commentator Nick Fuentes launched a venomous diatribe against Jewish people during his appearance at an America First Foundation rally on Sunday. Fuentes, known for his neo-Nazi views, spared no measure of hatred as he took aim at various targets while spewing his Christian nationalist rhetoric. Footage of Fuentes’ incendiary remarks quickly circulated on Twitter, showcasing the most inflammatory statements he made. The self-proclaimed white supremacist began by airing his grievances with fellow right-wing figures before delving into a distorted interpretation of the Talmud, often weaponized by white supremacists and anti-Semites. Fuentes selectively quoted lines, such as “If a gentile hits a Jew, he must be killed.

In a meeting at the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Joe Biden assured Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog of the unwavering friendship and support between the United States and Israel. Stressing the strength of the bilateral relationship, Biden reaffirmed America’s firm and ironclad commitment to Israel, a sentiment he also conveyed in a phone call with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu the day before. During the meeting, President Biden underscored the United States’ dedication to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He acknowledged his administration’s role in facilitating the opening of Saudi Arabian airspace to Israeli flights and expressed the need for continued efforts in that regard.

Anarchists who still haven’t accepted that they lost the elections engaged in yet another day of antics and harassment they dubbed the “National Day of Resistance,” with protests held in multiple locations throughout the country. At least 24 protesters were arrested by 5:30 p.m., including one protester who hit a police officer on the head with a flag pole with such force that it broke. At about 4:30 p.m., protesters began to gather at five central train stations in Haifa, Binyamina, Hertziliya, Tel Aviv and Lod but were blocked from entering the train platforms by the police, who were given strict orders to ensure that train service will not be disrupted. At some stations, clashes broke out between protesters and the police.

This isn’t something you see every day. A man from Crown Heights biked more than 400 miles from New York City all the way to Montreal, presumably as a fun summer activity and challenge. His first stop in Montreal? Pizza Pita for a fresh hot pie, fries and onion rings. The stunned storeowner gave an impromptu interview with the bochur, Yosef Goodman, who described his journey. Goodman said he began his journey beginning in the Bronx and rode it all the way to the Canadian border, sleeping in various Chabad houses along the way. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned Joe Biden challenger Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday, after he floated a bizarre and borderline anti-Semitic theory that the Covid-19 virus was engineered not to adversely affect Ashkenazi Jews. “The claims made on that tape is false. It is vile. They put our fellow Americans in danger,” Jean-Pierre said. RFK Jr.’s comments were revealed by the New York Post, who shared video of him outlining the conspiracy theory. “COVID-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately,” the Post quoted Kennedy as saying. “COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people.

House Democratic leadership issued a stern rebuke on Sunday dismissing the anti-Israel remarks made by Representative Pramila Jayapal, who serves as the chair of the congressional progressive caucus. The controversial comments were made by Jayapal during her appearance at the Netroots Nation conference on Saturday.

Donald Trump Jr. addressed the attendees of the Turning Point Action Conference over the weekend, where he veered off-topic to discuss allegations of cocaine being brought into the White House. Responding to an audience member’s prompt, Trump Jr. talked about what appears to be a Secret Service coverup about the entire incident. Emphatically, Trump Jr. distanced himself from any association with the allegations, using the incident to draw attention to Hunter Biden’s past drug-related issues. According to Twitter, it was mine. You have the world’s most famous crackhead in residence. And somehow, it was mine, according to Twitter. I haven’t been there in like three years.