Have you ever thought into the numerical value of zero? The round circle represents nothing when it stands alone. However, when placed after other numbers, it can mean everything. At COPE’s CPA Track graduation ceremonies for graduates and their families, the lineup of distinguished speakers, faculty, and grateful students echoed this theme. In today’s world where secular higher education is increasingly at odds with our values, one must be assured of staying in a safe, supportive environment, protecting the high standards cultivated by our Yeshivos, Bais Yaakovs, and families. That’s where COPE Education Services comes in. Since its inception in 1977, COPE has been instrumental in delivering top-quality secular education in an environment that’s in sync with Torah values.

(VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita began his visit to Moscow in Marina Roscha Shul located at the Moscow Jewish Community Center. Also present for the event was Russia’s Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Elazar Lazar. Rav Yosef is visiting the Jewish community in the city, along with yeshivos and schools. The Rishon L’Tzion is also expected to participate in the major Yud Tes Kislev Chag HaGeula event. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Chief Rabbinate Spokesman Unit)

Hundreds of people flocked to the levaya on Sunday night of R’ Yitzchok Meir Weiss, z’l, a Bnei Brak resident who suffered a heart attack and passed away while sitting shiva for his baby son who was niftar from crib death on Thursday. R’ Weiss and his wife were married for three years before they finally were zocheh to their firstborn son, Yisrael, z’l. On Thursday, 5-month-old Yisrael was niftar and in a shockingly heartrending double tragedy, R’ Weiss collapsed at the shiva and was niftar three days after his son. Shimon Weiss, the brother-in-law of Yitzchak Meir, z’l, was interviewed on Reshet B on Monday morning. “The tza’ar consumed him but we didn’t see it. He didn’t show any signs that would have pointed to the tragedy that was about to occur.

On Sunday evening, a meeting took place between HaRav Chaim Druckman and the four MKs from Bayit Yehudi and Ichud Leumi, but after two hours passed, no progress was reported towards creating a single united right-wing list ahead of the election for 23rd Knesset. On Monday morning, Bayit Yehudi announced that it does not see the feasibility of conducting party primaries at present and therefore, a united list must be created, and the order of the representatives set. There have been efforts in previous elections over recent months towards uniting the right-wing parties, albeit unsuccessful efforts, and today, many are aware of the fact that without uniting, some of the parties may find themselves outside of Knesset.

A new mobile computer technology and space lab will begin visiting a different school every week in Beit Shemesh. Beit Shemesh Mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch arrived at the Kiryat Chinuch education campus on Monday, December 16, 2019, to inaugurate the rolling space and technology computer lab and she met with a group of donors from Holland, including Chief Rabbi of the Netherlands, Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs and the Chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Education, Dr. David Portowitz. The mobile lab provides tools for children to expand their knowledge of technology and enrich their interests. The lab includes state-of-the-art equipment such as a 3D printer and lasers towards exposing the children to technological innovations.

China’s government says it will postpone planned punitive tariffs on U.S.-made automobiles and other goods following an interim trade deal with Washington. Sunday’s announcement came after Washington agreed to postpone a planned tariff hike on $160 billion of Chinese goods and to cut in half penalties that already were imposed. “China hopes to work with the United States on the basis of equality and mutual respect to properly address each other’s core concerns and promote the stable development of Chinese-U.S. economic and trade relations,” said a Cabinet statement. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said that under Friday’s agreement, China committed to buy $40 billion of American farm products over the next two years.

The nation’s largest public bus system rolled out its first all-electric articulated bus Sunday under a plan to convert New York City’s transit agency to a zero-emissions fleet by 2040. The new vehicle was deployed on one of Manhattan’s busiest crosstown routes, the 14th Street busway. By March, the route will have 15 electric-articulated buses, which are 60-foot-long vehicles connected in the middle with a joint. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to spend $1.1 billion to modify depots for electric operations and purchase about 500 electric buses for all five boroughs under its 2020-2024 Capital Plan. The transit agency currently operates 10 electric standard buses that are leased under a three-year pilot program launched in 2018 to test the technology.

In the background of the security establishment’s debate over the outline of the arrangement with Gaza in the future, as well as the possibilities for economic benefits to Hamas in the framework of a long-term arrangement, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) has completed its groundwork regarding the entry of thousands of Gazans into Israel. Walla News reports that according to a security source, “To increase the number of workers from Gaza is to add money to Gaza, and there is an immediate solution to permit 5000 Gazans into Israel to work in construction and agricultural fields. Each worker will earn at least NIS 7000 monthly in Israel, which means they will earn NIS 35 million monthly and NIS 15 billion annually based on the number of 5,000 laborers.

Two bicycle riders in their 40s were struck by a vehicle and R”L killed on Monday morning on Route 551 near the Hadarim Interchange in the Sharon region. The road is narrow, with one lane in each direction without a divider. It connects between the main road and the entrance to Moshav Bnei Tzion. The two cyclists, who are part of a riding group and described as “professionals” were hit by a passing vehicle and killed instantly. United Hatzalah EMT Shlomi Lifshitz explained that a private vehicle hit the two cyclists. “We tried to resuscitate them on the scene of the accident which involved two cyclists who were found in traumatic arrest. Unfortunately, they were both Niftar on the scene.

Some 1,300 people across the United States have died of the flu so far this year, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. In a report released Friday, federal health officials said there have been at least 2.6 million flu illnesses this year and 23,000 hospitalizations. Flu activity has been reported across the country, but some states – namely Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington – have reported “high” flu activity levels. Puerto Rico has seen high flu activity as well.