as reformulated by Rabbi Yair Hoffman The Plague of the Firstborn: Who Was Punished and Why?   During the final plague in Mitzrayim, Hashem struck down all the firstborn.

Michelle Obama has addressed the swirling rumors about her relationship with former President Barack Obama, attributing the divorce chatter to her recent embrace of personal autonomy and decision-making.
Speaking on the “Work in Progress” podcast hosted by Sophia Bush, the 61-year-old former first lady responded to the speculation that intensified after she missed several significant public events earlier in the year — most notably, the inauguration of President Trump.
“The interesting thing is that, when I say ‘no,’ for the most part people are like, ‘I get it, and I’m OK,’” she shared, explaining her decision to decline prominent invitations.
She went on to touch on a broader struggle many women face when setting boundaries and prioritizing themselves.

An extraordinary moment took place on Thursday morning at the Bais Medrash of Caulfield in Sydney, Australia, as a Siyum Masechta was held — not just any Siyum, but one made by Reb Berysz Aurbach, who, at the remarkable age of 104, was mesayem Maseches Chagigah, allowing bechorim who participated to eat. Reb Berish, born Gimmel Elul 5680 (1920), hails from a Chassidishe family in Biala Podlaska, Poland — a town with deep roots in Gerrer Chassidus. He was raised in a home filled with warmth, Torah, and mesorah, together with his siblings — three older brothers, a sister, and a half-brother. He still remembers learning as a child in the local Talmud Torah — memories from a world that would soon be destroyed.

Russia expressed frustration on Wednesday over the continuous threats directed at Iran, warning that airstrikes would do little to foster stability and pointing out that Tehran was already taking precautionary steps in response to the situation.
With nuclear discussions scheduled over the weekend between Iran and the United States, Iranian sources told Reuters on Tuesday that their government is entering the negotiations with skepticism, uncertain of any positive outcome and harboring deep doubts about America’s true motives.

Investor Kevin O’Leary is urging former President Donald Trump to go even further in his hardline approach to China, calling for dramatically increased tariffs as the administration stays firm on its trade stance amid intense market swings.
“104% tariffs against China are not enough. I’m advocating 400%,” O’Leary said in an interview on CNN. “I do business in China. They don’t play by the rules. They’ve been in the WTO for decades. They have never abided by any of the rules they agreed to when they came in for decades. They cheat, they steal, they steal IP, I can’t litigate in their courts.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that France may officially recognize a Palestinian state in the near future.
“We must take the path of a recognition [of the Palestinian state]. So that’s what we’re gonna do in the coming months,” he shared during an interview with France 5.
Macron suggested that this recognition could occur during a United Nations conference scheduled for June, which will be co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia and focused on establishing a Palestinian state.
“Our goal is something like June with Saudi Arabia to hold this conference to finalize the mutual recognition movement by several countries.”

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.

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.

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.