The last person convicted in Germany for crimes committed during the Holocaust, Irmgard Furchner, died at the age of 99, a German court announced on Monday. In 2022, Furchner, who served as a secretary at the Nazi concentration camp Stutthof during World War II, received a two-year suspended sentence for complicity in the murders of more than 10,000 people. Her trial marked the first prosecution of a woman in Germany for Nazi-era crimes in decades. The Stutthof concentration camp, located near Gdansk in occupied Poland, was established by Nazi Germany in 1939. Around 65,000 people lost their lives at Stutthof, many of them non-Jewish Poles, as well as Jews deported from Warsaw, Bialystok, and forced-labor camps in the occupied Baltic states.

A touching event took place today at the Chozrim L’chayim Rehabilitation Department at Tel Hashomer Hospital. Lt. Col. Hadi Falah, a Bedouin officer in the IDF who suffered severe injuries during a battle in the Gaza Strip about three months ago, signed a special agreement to purchase all of the chametz from the residents of Gush Etzion in preparation for Pesach.

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Get ready for 40 minutes of comedy gold!
This Chol Hamoed, join us for the livestream premiere of “Leave it to Kletzkin,” the must-see, hilarious comedy film for the whole family. 
Featuring the Stars of Bardak – starring in their first English Film.
Save the Date: Get your unique access code now for the livestream premiere on Motzei Yom Tov Rishon, April 14th at 9:30 PM EST.
Don’t Miss Out!
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Presented by Eretz Hakodesh – Slate 11

The IDF’s Discipline and Order Branch has released a comprehensive update to its guidelines regarding appearance and dress for all personnel, reflecting current trends and societal shifts. These guidelines apply to everyone in the military, from active-duty soldiers to reservists, with specific new instructions regarding facial hair.

(Translated by Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow – Email asebrow@gmail.com for sources) Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l was renowned for his concise, often one-word answers to halachic questions. Over the years, various individuals compiled and published collections of the questions they asked him—and the succinct responses they received in return. Below is a translation of several questions related to Birchas Ilanos (the blessing recited upon seeing blossoming fruit trees in the spring). Please note: while these insights are fascinating and can spark meaningful discussion, all those who published these collections emphasized that the responses should not be relied upon halacha l’maaseh (for practical halachic rulings).

The Israeli Ministry of Aliyah and Integration released its annual report on immigration Wednesday, summarizing the movement of new arrivals to Israel from Pesach 2024 through Pesach 2025.
Even in the face of a year marked by war and serious security threats, aliyah continued uninterrupted. Over the course of this challenging year, 27,281 individuals made the bold decision to move to Israel and begin a new life.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Minister of Defense, Yisroel Katz, traveled to the Morag Corridor in the Gaza Strip, accompanied by Major General Yaniv Asor, the Commander of the Southern Command, Brigadier General Moran Omer, the Commander of the 36th Division, and various other military leaders.
While at the site, the military commanders provided Katz with an update on the ongoing IDF operations in the area and the progress made in securing the region.

A growing number of Americans now view Israel in a negative light, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Tuesday, with 53% expressing an unfavorable opinion of the Jewish state — rising from 42% in March 2022. The survey also found that confidence in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains low, with just 32% of Americans trusting him to handle world affairs appropriately, while 52% say they have little or no confidence in his leadership. Partisan divides were evident in the results: 69% of Democrats hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% in the 2022 survey. Among Republicans, the number of those viewing Israel negatively increased to 37%, compared to 27% three years ago. The shift has been especially pronounced among younger adults.

U.S. stock markets surged today after President Trump declared a 90-day suspension on most of his “reciprocal” tariffs, with the exception of China, which he hit with a steep 125% levy, citing their “lack of respect.”
The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared by 2,962.86 points, or 7.9%, marking its biggest single-day points gain ever, closing at 40,608.45. This came after Trump shared on Truth Social that he would pause the significant tariffs, responding to requests from over 75 countries who sought to engage in negotiations.
“I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump posted on Truth Social, sending Wall Street into a rally.

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To All Friends and Admirers of Shas Yiden,
Pesach – חג הישועות

The Festival of Redemption

OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a medical diagnosis that gets thrown around a lot in colloquial speech, especially around Pesach time. We take Hilchos Pesach seriously, and rightfully so! OCD is not the same as being careful in Halacha, and it’s crucial to distinguish between the two. Because the term is so misused and misunderstood, it can be helpful and important to distinguish between what is and isn’t OCD. Many people will say things like “I’m so OCD” when referring to being hyper-organized or particular about the way they do things. (You line up your clothes in your closet in order of color? You’re so OCD!) This is not OCD and can be both invalidating to people who are truly struggling and just generally misinform the public about what to be aware of.

Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office has launched the Initiative for Parnasah Connection, a groundbreaking effort aimed at addressing the growing job crisis within the Lakewood community. The initiative is designed to help job seekers find meaningful employment that aligns with their skills and needs, while also offering hands-on mentorship throughout the job search and application process.
Under the leadership of Program Director Mordechai Pressburger, the initiative boasts a team of over 25 committed businessmen spanning a wide range of industries. These professionals volunteer their time to guide candidates through every stage of the job hunt—including resume building, interview preparation, direct job placement, and follow-ups with potential employers.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams ‘ administration is allowing federal

Bill Gates recently shared with Indian podcaster Raj Shamani that when he passes, his three children — Jennifer Gates, 28, Rory Gates, 25, and Phoebe Gates, 22 — will inherit “less than 1 percent” of his vast fortune.
With a net worth of $101.2 billion, according to Forbes, that still means the children will receive a sum of over $1 billion, even at less than 1 percent.
The subject arose when Shamani discussed the common belief among many Indian parents that they should “save everything for their kids” rather than donate their wealth to charity or the less fortunate.
Gates, 69, is well-known for founding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private charitable foundation in the world, with his former wife, Melinda Gates, in 2000.

The White House issued a strong rebuke on Tuesday to a New York Times article covering Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s review of current fluoride policies and his new initiative urging states to eliminate fluoride from drinking water.
The Times had published a story on Monday detailing Kennedy’s kickoff of a cross-country campaign advocating for the elimination of fluoridation in public water systems. The publication described the move as “a move that would reverse what some medical experts consider one of the most important public health practices in the country’s history.”

Hatzolah of Central Jersey, the Lakewood Fire Dept., Chaveirim of Central Jersey, and Lakewood Shomrim have issued an urgent reminder to take proper precautions and avoid serious – and entirely preventable – dangers associated with carbon monoxide poisoning. Each year in the United States, thousands of people are treated for accidental carbon monoxide exposure, and tragically, some do not survive. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer – invisible, tasteless, and odorless – and it can accumulate quickly when proper care is not taken. This time of year brings intense cleaning and kashering activities – but they must be done with awareness of physical safety.

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