Seeking to reclaim his old Senate seat from Alabama, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions faces former college football coach Tommy Tuberville — a political newcomer endorsed by President Donald Trump. Trump casts a long shadow over the Alabama race, backing Tuberville after turning decisively against his former Cabinet member. Sessions held the seat safely for 20 years before resigning to lead Trump’s Justice Department. He was forced out of the position when their relationship soured over his recusal in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Sessions hopes his long relationship with state Republicans will carry him through. He was the first U.S.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo added four more states to New York’s quarantine list on Tuesday as he sought to contain the spread of COVID-19 from regions of the country where infection rates are growing. The addition of Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin means that travelers from 22 states will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon entering New York. The list of states that meet New York’s travel advisory’s metrics has continued to grow each week as coronavirus cases continue to spike nationwide.

NO TRIPS DURING COVID – 19? Who said? A unique extreme travel camp for Bais Yaakov teens! Can a day camp actually feel like a thrilling experience? Action-packed adventure trips and programming for the month of August! Join a select group of girls entering 10th,11th and 12th grade for a summer of a lifetime! Limited slots available. For more information and application: Call: 917 204 6901 or Email: campcompass2020@gmail.com  

On one side are parents saying, let kids be kids. They object to masks and social distancing in classrooms this fall — arguing both could hurt their children’s well-being — and want schools to reopen full time. On the other side are parents and teachers who call for safeguards that would have been unimaginable before the coronavirus pandemic: part-time school, face coverings for all or a fully online curriculum. The impassioned tug-of-wars have put educators in the middle of an increasingly politicized debate on how best to reopen schools this fall, a daunting challenge as infections spike in the U.S. “Don’t tell me my kid has to wear a mask,” said Kim Sherman, a mother of three in the central California city of Clovis who describes herself as very conservative and very pro-Trump.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Perhaps no other Torah personality has had such a dichotomy in terms of impact and obscurity.  Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv Broide of Kelm (1824-1898), was the Rebbe of the Alter of Slabodka, the Alter of Novardik, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein, Rav Reuvain Dov Dessler, and Rav Yeruchem Levovitz.  Essentially, every Yeshiva in Europe, America and Ashkenazic Eretz Yisroel was either started or greatly influenced by the Alter of Kelm’s Talmidim. And yet, so few people are aware of the details of his life and of the Yeshiva in Kelm. Rav Simcha Zissel was born in Kelm. His mother was a descendent of the Chachom Tzvi.

Hagaon Harav Asher Weiss delivered a special shiur on the coronavirus on Sunday evening, during which he said: “I know that many say that most patients are fine – that’s not relevant. What’s important is not the number of people who are fine, what’s important is the number of people who are lo aleinu at risk, especially the chronically ill and elderly.” “Everyone needs to think about his family and decide who he’s willing to give up – on Saba or Savta, on his Rav or Rebbe – these are the people at-risk.” “The first rule is to wear a mask. I know that there are ‘chachamim’ among us who aren’t willing to accept the authority of the Health Ministry. Why do we need to listen to them? These are the experts. People all over the world are wearing masks.

When Reb Chanoch’s wife, Mrs. Chayelle Regal (Chaya Reizel bas Soreh Rivka Alte Gittel), saw her husband enveloped in flames, she ran to save his life, grabbing a hose and spraying water on him. As a result of her heroic attempt, she, too, was badly burned, sustaining second and third-degree burns.A story hard to imagine. CLICK TO DONATE Tragically, Reb Chanoch returned his pure neshamah to his Maker a week later. Reb Chanoch was really special and forged a very close relationship with many tzaddikim including the Belzer Rebbe and Rabbi David Abichazira, shlit”a by writing their families biography. Rabbi Abichazira told R Chanochs’s son”Your father was supposed to recover, but he was taken as a korbon tzibbur.

An official letter of the Ukrainian government states that Israeli Jews will not be allowed to enter Ukraine to spend Rosh Hashanah at Uman – the site of the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov. The increasingly popular tradition of tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world traveling to Uman every year for Rosh Hashanah has now joined the list of activities that have been halted by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the letter, Ukrainian government officials convened on July 9 to discuss whether to allow Israeli Jews to enter the country for Rosh Hashanah despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Camp Lakemont, established in 2012, has been providing Bais Yaakov girls with quality, top of the line camping for nearly a decade. This year, the camp is situated on a beautiful, upstate campus in the Poconos. They are thrilled to announce that due to popular demand, they are now offering their exclusive camping experience for the second trip as well. The Second trip will run from July 28th through August 18th, and is now open to girls entering grades 8-11. Also accepting staff from grades 11 and up.Limited availability. Apply now! For further inquiry or to receive an application, call 732.415.0759, or email lakemontoffice2@gmail.com. For staff applications, email lakemontstaff@gmail.com

Heartbreaking images surfaced this week of the levaya of Rabbi Moshe Friedman, a 36-year-old father of 3. Friedman passed away recently after an arduous battle with cancer, which spread from his lungs to other organs. His wife Chava was by his side during his suffering, while also raising 3 children, two of whom are suffering from epilepsy.  After two years of tremendous suffering, Rabbi Friedman wasted away to the point that he was barely recognizable. Once a young, smiling man with a bushy brown beard, recent images show a pale, thin man in a wheelchair. In stark contrast to this image, his sons, with tears streaming down their rosy cheeks and flowing blond peyos, stammered through kaddish at his funeral procession.