Microsoft began laying off about 6,000 workers Tuesday, nearly 3% of its entire workforce and its largest job cuts in more than two years as the company spends heavily on artificial intelligence. Hardest hit was the tech giant’s home state of Washington, where Microsoft informed state officials it was cutting 1,985 workers tied to its Redmond headquarters. Microsoft said the layoffs will be across all levels, teams and geographies but the cuts will focus on reducing the number of managers. Notices to employees began going out on Tuesday. The mass layoffs come just weeks after Microsoft reported strong sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations for the January-March quarter, which investors took as a dose of relief during a turbulent time for the tech sector and U.S. economy.

_*]:min-w-0″> Six Torah Mitzvos at Stake By Rabbi Yair Hoffman A unique opportunity presents itself to New York’s Jewish community – the chance to fulfill six distinct Torah mitzvos through a single action: contacting your state senator regarding the Assisted Suicide bill recently passed by the NY Assembly (A136). The Senate version of this bill […]

New York City will no longer fully control its jail system, including the long-troubled Rikers Island complex, after a federal judge found the city had failed to stem spiraling dysfunction and brutality against those in custody. Instead, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would appoint an outside manager to “take all necessary steps” toward restoring order inside the jails and bringing the city into compliance with previous court orders. The official, known as a “remediation manager,” will report directly to the court.

Following the high-profile Israeli strike aimed at eliminating Hamas commander Muhammad Sinwar, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued a stern message to the terror group’s leadership: Israel will not cease its pursuit until all hostages are freed and Hamas is decisively defeated.
On Wednesday morning, Katz addressed the operation, as assessments within the Israeli defense establishment increasingly point to a successful outcome — with growing indications that Sinwar was indeed killed.
“We will not allow the Hamas terror organization to use hospitals and humanitarian facilities in Gaza as safe havens and terror command centers,” declared Katz. “We will hunt them and their leaders down and strike them with force wherever they are.”

President Donald Trump told Gulf leaders on Wednesday he urgently wants “to make a deal” with Iran to wind down its nuclear program but Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region as part of any potential agreement. Iran “must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons,” Trump said in remarks at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” The U.S. and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month focused on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said that he believes brokering a deal is possible but that the window is closing.

In honor of Lag Ba’omer, Mordy’s Shtiebel in Lakewood will be hosting a grand hadlakah on Thursday evening for the yahrtzeit of Rav Shimon bar Yochai.
The event will feature divrei hisorerus at 8:15 p.m. from Rav Dovid Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha.
Sources reveal that this may be the first time that a BMG rosh yeshiva will address a Lag Ba’omer hadlakah in Lakewood.
At 8:45 p.m., the mechiras hashemen will take place, followed by nigunei hisorerus beginning at 9:00 p.m.
The lighting of the hadlakah will be held at 9:15 p.m.
The event will be held at Mordy’s Shtiebel, located at 15 Delaware Trail, and is open to men and boys.

Police in Antwerp early Wednesday morning raided the homes of mohelim in the Chareidi kehilla in the city, seeking their bris knives and lists of children, including the homes of renowned mohelim, HaRav Aharon Eckstein and HaRav Moshe Landau. The police raid follows an outrageous lawsuit filed over a year ago by a Jew with a history of provoking Jewish kehillos in Europe. According to testimonies, the officers knocked on doors and said, “Either you open up, or we break in.” The police confiscated all the knives in their possession despite the fact that there has yet to be a court ruling on the case, and requested the list of all the babies they circumcised in the past year.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman This article, like its title, is divided into 3 parts.