As New York City plans its reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Met Council CEO David G. Greenfield has been named to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s non-profit and social service task force charged with helping the city map the road to recovery. Greenfield will join other city-wide leaders on the Non-Profit and Social Services Sector Advisory Council to offer critical guidance to the Mayor as he reopens New York City and restarts its economy. “It is an honor to join distinguished nonprofit leaders on the task force to reopen New York City,” said Greenfield. “The reality is that during this crisis New Yorkers are even more reliant on the life-saving work that nonprofits and social service organizations do every day.

Several regions of upstate New York that have shown progress in taming the coronavirus outbreak are ready to gradually restart economic activity by the end of the week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Cuomo shut down the entire state March 22 as the New York City area emerged as a global pandemic hot spot, but the outbreak has been less severe in the state’s smaller cities and rural areas. He said three upstate regions have met all criteria for opening some business activity after May 15: the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and the Finger Lakes. Other upstate regions are making and could follow soon after. The reopening regions still need to work out logistics, such as creating regional “control rooms” to monitor the effects of the reopening.

It’s time. The band is jamming, the music streaming, the sites are live, the phones are open. For the next 24 hours you can make a thundering statement of gratitude to your local Hatzalah volunteers who have sacrificed themselves these past months for the sake of the entire Jewish people. Click here to join the live event! Go to Unitedforprotection.com or call (855) 910-0232 to join the concert and give today your community heroes.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times There is someone in the Five Towns who is willing to pay a large amount of money to have the honor of being a sandak at a Bris Milah – any Bris Milah.  His purpose, however, is not just to have the Mitzvah of being Sandek – but to be able to get a haircut during Sfirah.  This person, and perhaps many others out there as well, would certainly like to hear what the halacha is concerning the night of Lag BaOmer itself. What are the halachos getting a haircut and listening to music on the evening of Lag BaOmer? DEBATE AMONG RISHONIM It is a debate among the Rishonim whether the heter for getting married and getting a haircut on Lag BaOmer is only after the morning (and day) of LaG BaOmer – or on the previous evening as well.

Tonight, though the celebrations will be far from the typical crowds, an esteemed group of rabbanim and their followers will gather to pray by the final resting place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in honor of Lag Ba’Omer. It will be an exhilarating and unique experience for those who merit to attend – an exclusive prayer gathering where there is typically chaos. Though those gathering will surely be grateful to be in attendance, however, a shadow of immense grief hangs over the event: The memory of famed baal chesed and father of 11 ‘Abba of Meron’ Reb Bentzion Kuperstock a”h. Despite being a man of modest means, Reb Kuperstock famously gave from his own pocket to feed hundreds of strangers on Meron each year.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com It is now the first yartzeit of Moreinu HaRav Shlomo Teitelbaum, and the world is palpably different now.  There is less Kedusha in it.  Rav Shlomo Teitelbaum zichron tsaddik v’kadosh livracha has passed away, and a paragon – a role model, of what a human being can achieve in both avodas Hashem and  kedusha – is now gone. Rav Shlomo Teitelbaum zt”l possessed a rare combination of genuine and deep-felt ahavas yisroel, meticulous adherence to the mesorah of his father, Rav Yaakov Teitelbaum zt”l and of his Rebbeim, and sheer dedication to the performance of Mitzvos in the most ideal manner possible. Rav Shlomo’s father, Rav Yaakov Teitelbaum zt”l, was a student of the famed Rav Meir Arik zt”l, along with Rav Meir Shapiro and others.

Our holy yeshiva, Yeshivas Toras Chaim in Moscow founded by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Soloveitchik of Zurich ztz”l, enjoys the quiet and secluded setting of one of Moscow’s suburbs. We are now able to say Kaddish and learn Mishnayos for the elevation of the souls of you beloved ones. Since Purim, its talmidim have been in voluntary quarantine. They as well as several families continued learning during bein ha-zmanim and even during the days of Pesach together with avreichim from our kollel. Please CLICK HERE to submit your request for saying Kaddish or learning Mishnayos

There are 16,492 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Israel as of Monday, with a total of 73 patients in serious condition of whom 64 are ventilated. The number of active virus cases has dropped to 4,690. Israel’s death toll currently stands at 254, including Mrs. Mazal Elbaz, a’h, of Jerusalem, a mother of 11 children, who passed away at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital overnight Sunday at the age of 52. Mrs. Elbaz suffered from cancer in the past and had a bone marrow transplant a few years ago. She was hospitalized on Pesach after contracting the coronavirus. Health Ministry Deputy Director-General Prof. Itamar Grotto said on Kan News on Monday that Israelis will be able to return to a full routine only where are no new reported cases of coronavirus infections.

An anti-Semitic couple from Queens were arrested after they attacked Hasidic Jews in Williamsburg. It happened on Sunday night at around 9:00PM at Bedford Avenue and Ross Street. Sources tell YWN that the couple, named as Paulo Pinho, 35, and his wife, Clelia Pinho, 46, arrived at the location in a vehicle and began screaming anti-Semitic slurs at the Jews. They then exited the vehicle and began physically attacking the Jewish pedestrians – including pulling the masks off some of them. Eyewitnesses tell YWN that the couple yelled “You’re the reason why we’re getting sick!” After getting physical with the Hasidic pedestrians, the two were detained until Williamsburg Shomrim and the NYPD arrived. Both were taken into custody and charged with Aggravated Assault.

In a recent public statement, the government in Eretz Yisroel has issued a firm prohibition against all Hadlakahs this year. However keeping up with the centuries of Minhag Yisroel, one Hadlkah will be allowed to take place at R’ Shimon’s Bar Yachoi’s Ohel in Meron. Led by the Boyaner Rebbe Shli”ta, the Hadlakah will be strictly closed to the public, and virtually watched by thousands of people across the globe. Askanim have now launched a convenient platform that will enable Yidden everywhere to connect with R’ Shimon this year, and send oil to the fire as a special Zechus. Askanim will be Mazkir the names of each participant and Poil Yeshuos and Refuos for their families and for Klal Yisroel. Connect with R’ Shimon, and bring down endless Yeshuos and Refuos from above!