Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to get vaccinated to help curb the Covid-19 pandemic, calling it “safe” and “something that works.” “I would recommend it and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,” Trump told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo. “But again,” he continued, “we have our freedoms and we have to live by that and I agree with that also. But it is a great vaccine. It is a safe vaccine and it is something that works.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein spoke on Monday at the UTJ Keness that took place at his home, attended by all the members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. The Rosh Yeshivah spoke very sharply about the growing incitement in the media against the Chareidi sector. “As is well-known, today there’s great incitement against the Chareidi sector,” the Rosh Yeshivah said. “They want to establish decrees against us, decrees on Shemiras Shabbos, on chinuch, on violating religion, decrees of Shmad! There’s a lot of propaganda in the media against Chareidim – this poses a great risk to us. Incitement has an influence, there are many who are influenced by it.

“These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to one another, judge truth and judgment of peace in your cities. And don’t contrive evil against one another, and don’t love perjury, because all these are what I hate—declares the Lord.” (Zecharya 8:16-17). Thes above pessukim were uncovered in an exceedingly rare discovery, in which dozens of 2,000-year-old scroll fragments were excavated under arduous conditions in a bold rescue operation from the Judean Desert “Cave of Horror,” the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Tuesday. The parchment fragments, bearing pessukim from the neviim of Zecharya and Nachum, are written in Greek, with only the names of Hashem written in Hebrew – in the script used during the time of the first Beis Hamikdash.

Thanks to a public-pressure campaign to free multiple Agunos, yet another woman has been freed. Jonathan Abtan has given his wife Michelle a Get on Tuesday afternoon. The Get was done in the office of Mr. Harry Adjmi, one of the pillars of the Sephardic community in Flatbush / Deal. Mr Adjmi along with leading Sephardic Rabbonim in NY have been extremely instrumental in freeing at least three Agunos the past week and half. This is just one of a few Agunos who received a Get the past two weeks, following an outpouring of protests on social media in support of many women who are literally chained to their husbands.

President Joe Biden on Sunday passed up an opportunity to join other Democrats calling for the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is under investigation after multiple allegations of harassment. Asked by a reporter if Cuomo should resign, Biden responded, “I think the investigation is underway and we should see what it brings us.” Biden, who made the comments upon returning to the White House from a weekend at his home in Delaware, had not previously spoken publicly about the allegations against Cuomo. However, his comments reflect the wait-and-see position the White House has taken regarding Cuomo’s future. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki would not say whether Biden believes Cuomo should resign.

The NYPD is investigating a hate crime that took place in Williamsburg on Friday night. Police say a Hasidic man was walking on the corner of Wallabout Street and Marcy Avenue at around 6:15PM, when a man ran up from behind him, grabbed his Shtreimel off his head, and ran off. The Shtreimel was valued at $8,000. Williamsburg Shomrim assisted the NYPD is obtaining the attached security camera footage of the hate crime. The unidentified male is 5’07” to 5’10”, 125lbs, and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States’ top pandemic adviser says that authorities are considering cutting social distancing rules to three feet (one meter), a move that would change a key tenet of the global fight against Covid-19. Anthony Fauci, a world-respected figure during the coronavirus crisis, says experts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are examining a Massachusetts study that found “no substantial difference” in Covid cases in schools observing six-foot and three-foot rules.

A massive wildfire in Lakewood, NJ, has engulfed at least two commercial buildings, Sunday afternoon. The fires broke out around 1:00PM in the area of Cedarbridge Avenue and Airport Road (Industrial Park). Numerous fire departments have been requested to assist – some from as far as an hour away. Smoke can be seen over the Garden State Parkway, and the entire highway – in both directions – has been closed in the area of Exit 89. The smell of smoke and fire has spread across the greater Lakewood area. The National Weather Service began warning on Saturday night that the dry and windy conditions were “favorable for rapid spread of any wildfires”. Large Brush Fire in the area of Airport Road and Cedarbridge Avenue. GSP exit 89 is shut down.

A terrifying situation was quickly brought to an end thanks to fast-acting Boro Park Shomrim volunteers. The dramatic incident unfolded just minutes to Shabbos, when a known-car thief jumped into a parked vehicle on 45th Street near 15th Avenue that had its motor running, and sped off. In the backseat, was a 14-year-old boy. The owner of the vehicle called Police and the Shomrim hotline in a panic, reporting what had just taken place, and gave a description of the vehicle and the direction it was heading. Meanwhile, the maniac driver pulled a knife out and threatened the young teen, who managed to jump out of the vehicle a few blocks later. Around 10 minutes later, a Shomrim member noticed the vehicle on 18th Avenue and Dahill Road, and called Police to give them the vehicle location.

With New Jersey continuing to make its way back from the pandemic amid improving numbers, a group of community leaders took advantage of of an opportunity to express their gratitude to Governor Phil Murphy for the compassion and sensitivity he displayed towards the Garden State’s Jewish residents over the past year. The Governor was joined by NJ Health Commissioner Judy Perischilli. The governor’s office had an open door policy in place throughout the pandemic, giving faith based communities an opportunity to share nuanced issues affecting their members during the extended lockdown and beyond.