A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens was expected grow Thursday, with smoke affecting the air quality in the New York City area before rain arrives this week, authorities said. Higher-than-normal pollution levels were expected Thursday in New York City, Rockland and Westchester counties, and in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advised Wednesday. The fire is roughly 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of New York City. It said “going indoors may reduce exposure” to problems such as eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman In a concerning development, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, the esteemed 95-year-old Rosh Yeshivah, was admitted to Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital early Thursday morning after experiencing a fall at his

China on Thursday denied U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that the two sides were involved in active negotiations over tariffs, saying that any suggestion of progress in this matter was as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.” China’s comments come after Trump said Tuesday that the final tariff rate on China’s exports would come down “substantially” from the current 145%. “China’s position is consistent and we are open to consultations and dialogues, but any form of consultations and negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and in an equal manner,” said Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong. “Any claims about the progress of China-U.S.

At the state ceremony held Wednesday evening at Yad Vashem to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israeli President Isaac Herzog used his address to issue a heartfelt call for unity, warning that the internal fractures within Israeli society are becoming dangerously deep. “I call upon you from the bottom of my heart: Let us unite together, the entire House of Israel,” Herzog implored. “Let us turn these days – the Ten Holy Days – from now until Independence Day, into a moment of National responsibility. Let us lower the flames. Let us mend our hearts.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has formally submitted referrals to the Department of Justice against two individuals she says unlawfully disclosed classified information to media outlets, as the Trump administration intensifies its efforts to clamp down on leaks across federal departments.
According to Gabbard, 44, one of the suspected individuals is responsible for providing classified material to the Washington Post, while the second allegedly gave sensitive documents to the New York Times.
“A third criminal referral is on its way,” Gabbard said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that this third person is believed to have also funneled classified content to the Washington Post without authorization.

Whether the threat was abusive Hamas guards, hunger, illness or Israeli strikes, there were moments during Tal Shoham’s 505 days of captivity in Gaza when he didn’t think he’d be alive the next morning. There were “many times that I separated from life and … tried to accept death,” the 40-year-old Israeli, who also holds Austrian citizenship, told The Associated Press. “There are so many ways to die there.” Shoham was one of dozens of hostages released from Gaza in February as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that has since been broken. His wife, two children and three other family members were also kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and were freed a month later. Shoham said he spent half his captivity in apartments and the rest in underground tunnels.

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1477-Machseh-Part-107.mp3
​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.
 
 

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services reported on Thursday morning that their forces have gained control of the massive fire that has been raging since Wednesday morning in the forest areas near Beit Shemesh, in the Jerusalem hills. Over a hundred firefighting teams, aided by aircraft,  are still working to extinguish five remaining fires. However, all residents of three yishuvim near Beit Shemesh who were evacuated on Wednesday have been allowed to return to their homes and the roads in the area were reopened to traffic. “The incident is under control,”  Fire Commissioner Eyal Caspi announced: “I toured the area and was in all areas.