During a Congressional hearing on Thursday regarding guns, Republican Rep. Greg Steube and Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee got into a bitter argument after the latter commented on the farmer’s use of firearms. The House Judiciary Committee hearing addressed legislation introduced by Democrats that would ban many types of guns. Democrats say the bill is necessary to counter the country’s gun violence epidemic, while Republicans say it is too broad and unconstitutional. During the hearing, Rep. Steube, who was attending via video conference from his home, showcased some weapons from his personal stash that would be banned under the Democrats’ bill. “Here’s a gun I carry every single day to protect myself, my family, my wife and my home,” Steube said. “This is a XL Sig Sauer P365.

Israeli security forces demolished the home of the Bnei Brak terrorist overnight Wednesday in the village of Ya’bad, near Jenin. The demolition was carried out after the terrorists’ petition to the Supreme Court was rejected. In the course of the operation, violent riots broke out, during which hundreds of Arabs threw stones, Molotov cocktails, and explosives at IDF forces. Some Arabs opened live fire at the soldiers, who returned fire. One terrorist was killed and three were injured in the exchange of gunfire. IDF soldiers also arrested the terrorist’s father and transferred him to security forces for questioning.

Chaos erupted in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday after Deputy Speaker Ahmed Tibi cut off MK Orit Strook’s speech when she accused him and other Arab MKs of supporting terrorism. After stopping her speech, Tibi responded by saying that she is from the only party that has a member who has been convicted of supporting terrorism. Tibi’s response caused an eruption from right-wing lawmakers, who yelled at him:  “You are Arafat’s adviser. The blood of Jews in on your hands.” The incident came as the Knesset debated a bill to recognize bereaved siblings and to regulate their status so that they will be entitled to receive official notification of their sibling’s passing and receive all the information about the rights to which they are entitled.

Famed Israeli singer Motty Steinmetz released a new clip ahead of Shavuos for his hit song U’Miskadesh. The song was specially composed by Eli Klein and Yitzy Berry for the Siyumei Daf HaYomi b’halacha of Dirshu. HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky’s last public appearance was at the Dirshu siyum in February. The video flashes back and forth from the streets of Manhattan to the Beis Medrash, illustrating the words of Rebbe Chaim of Volohzin that the Torah Kedosha is “superior to all the affairs of Olam HaZeh.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

A moving scene took place at the Yom Yerushalayim celebration at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav on Sunday. Famed singer Avraham Fried sang the song Nishmat Kol Chai for the refuah of Rebbetzin Lau, the wife of Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau, at the request of the emcee Yedidya Meir. Rav Lau couldn’t attend the event but he sent two representatives, his son-in-law Naftali Adler and his youngest son Yehudah. Yehudah, who sat next to Fried throughout the evening, sang together with Fried on the stage. The public is asked to continue davening for Rav Lau’s wife, Feiga Tzipporah bas Hadassah l’refuah sheleimah b’toch shaar cholei Yisrael. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

An 18-year-old Jewish student at Northwestern University’s Brookfield Academy, and an accomplished member of Northwestern’s Chabad house, was tragically killed in a light airplane crash on Tuesday. Daniel Perelman, a brilliant young man who excelled in math and was a chess phenom, died after crashing his single-engine Cessna aircraft, shortly after radioing that he was experiencing engine trouble. Rabbi Mendy Weg of Chabad of Northwestern said Daniel was an active participant at the Chabad and positively impacted the lives of everyone around him. “To think this is a freshman, a first-year student finishing his third-quarter here on campus to make that kind of impression says volumes about Daniel,” Rabbi Weg said.

At least five people opened fire at each other in broad daylight on a Brooklyn street on Sunday, shocking video of the incident shows. Two groups, each consisting of four people, were seen approaching the others on Mermaid Avenue near West 25th Street in Coney Island, when at least 5 whipped out guns and opened fire, shooting around 36 rounds in total. Nobody was injured in the incident, but property in the area was damaged. One of the groups fled down West 25th Street, while the other ran eastbound on Mermaid Avenue. Police are still working to identify the suspects and bring them into custody. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Chaveirim of Rockland inaugurated a new emergency response vehicle donated by VIP Collision on Tuesday morning at Ramapo Town Hall. The event was emceed by Rockland County Legislator Aaron Wieder, who introduced various other dignitaries, including Ramapo Supervisor Michael B. Specht, Ramapo Chief of Staff Mona Montal, Ramapo Police Chief Martin Reilly, Spring Valley Police Chief Richard Oleszczuk, and Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco, among others, all of whom came to express their appreciation for Chaveirim’s work. “As much as we do, we can’t be everywhere, we can’t see everything, we don’t know every single thing that’s going on.

Just three days before the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim, the first shul to be erected on Har Hazeisim in 3,000 years was dedicated by Rabbi and Rebbetzin Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginsberg in memory of their daughter Sarala, a”h, who passed away six years ago at the tender age of 17. When Rabbi Ginzberg began his search to dedicate a shul in the memory of his beloved daughter who is buried in the family plot on Har Hazeisim, he didn’t have to look too far. Through a chance meeting with Josh Wander, one of the most knowledgeable people in the history and location of graves on Har Hazeisim, Rabbi Ginzberg learned of a community of 200 families that live at the foot of the mountain – one that Josh now calls home.

Likud MK Dudi Amsalem on Tuesday blasted Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman in the Knesset plenum for his comments on Monday against limmud Torah and Chareidim. “Lieberman says that kollel isn’t limmud Torah,” Amsalem said. “Since when does Lieberman know what Torah is?” “You immigrated from Moldova with nothing. Who helped you? The Chareidim. So what did you do to them? You said they should be thrown in the garbage dump. That’s your trademark style of ungratefulness and hypocrisy.” “Mr. Lieberman, I want to remind you – there wasn’t a Rebbe that you didn’t flatter, there wasn’t a tisch that you didn’t participate in, gefilte fish that you didn’t eat. But suddenly the Chareidim are the ‘enemies of the nation.’ What lowly behavior you’ve resorted to.