Yeshiva World News

House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King called Monday for a formal investigation into leaks of classified information regarding the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula underwear bomb plot that was recently uncovered by American intelligence.

“It’s essential to find out who did it. It was a dramatic, dramatic mission, and a terrible, terrible leak. That something of this magnitude could be leaked, some people I’ve spoken to in the intelligence community, at pretty high levels, are outraged by it,” King told POLITICO.

Several weeks ago it was revealed that the CIA foiled a new plot to use an underwear bomb to attack an airplane on the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden.

“I am writing to formally request (a) that the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct a full inquiry of the widely reported leaks earlier this month of highly classified information regarding penetration of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and (b) that this investigation include the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, federal law enforcement and the White House, including the National Security staff,” wrote King in a Monday letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller.

King stressed that it was one of American’s most successful operations ever, and also one of the most secretive, meaning that the investigation could center around a smaller group of people.

“It was the most tightly-held operation I’ve ever been aware of. Even the bin Laden operation, there were members of Congress that were briefed on it months before. In this case, not the Speaker of the House, number two in line to the presidency, no one was briefed,” said King. “This was tightly-held, and the story got out. This is such a small universe of people who know about it.

“This will be less difficult than other investigations because the universe is so small,” King predicted, noting that the U.S.’ foreign allies involved in the operation are “angry” about the leaks.

The New York Republican said that inquiries into the leak have already begun.

“Whether official or not, [the FBI has] already begun a preliminary inquiry… they’ve certainly begun looking into this. They take it seriously,” said King. “The CIA has begun its own investigation, the Director of National Intelligence has begun its own investigation.”

(Source: Politico)

The Knesset committee headed by Kadima MK Yochanan Plesner responsible for drafting a new law that will replace the Tal Law, to induct chareidim into the IDF convened today.

The first session of the committee was held in the Negev Room in the Knesset. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was in attendance along with his newly-appointed deputy prime minister, Kadima leader Minister Shaul Mofaz. The clock is ticking and only 70 days remain during which the bill must be voted into law, for on August 1, 2012, the Tal Law expires and if a new law is not in place, all chareidim will be eligible for draft along with the general draft-eligible population.

One of the major components of the coalition deal that brought Kadima into the government was that Plesner will head the committee, so this is a given. Also included among the committee members are Professor Yaffa Zilbershatz of Bar Ilan University, Professor Yedidya Stern (professor of law), Yoav Kish (representative of the sucker’s tent), Major-General (reserves) Yehuda Segev (a retired chief of IDF personnel), and Attorney Yaakov Weinrot (representing the chareidim). Ahead of the first meeting the chareidim in Knesset announced they are boycotting the committee, including Yahadut HaTorah and Shas. Their unwillingness to sit in on the committee compelled the government to enlist the service of Weinrot.

All Knesset parties have been invited to send a representative as well, and in this case, the chareidi and Arab parties find themselves in the same boat, both facing compulsory IDF service.

Party representatives include Ze’ev Elkin (Likud), Dudu Rotem (Yisrael Beitenu), and Uri Orbach (HaBayit HaYehudi). Orbach spoke with Israel Radio hours ahead of the first session, and while being an outspoken voice in the dati leumi community for all communities “sharing the burden”, he stated that he feels this committee can and must reach agreement and not seek to dictate to the chareidim or any other sector for doing so will not lead to cooperation.

Orbach stressed that while the government may simply permit the Tal Law to expire and draft chareidim, Arabs and secularists who evade military service, this is not the way to go about implementing change and he remains confident that agreement can and will be reached in the limited time allotted.

Also taking part in the committee are representatives of the IDF Personnel Brach and representatives of civilian and national service, which will offer an alternative to military service under the new law. And of course, there will be representatives of the Justice Ministry and treasury.

Interestingly, while not represented under the hesder banner in the committee, the hesder program may also be impacted by the committee since many feel this is the time to demand that hesder soldiers also “share the load” since today, they only serve 18 months as opposed to other male soldiers, who serve 36 months. Hesder soldiers serve a total of 60 months, 18 in the military and the remainder studying torah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Drivers and their passengers better make sure they’re buckled up.

State police will be running a two-week crackdown on seatbelts starting Monday and running through June 3.

The state police will join about 400 local law enforcement units across New York to enforce the seatbelt law.

The law says all people in a vehicle’s front seats have to wear seatbelts. So do all children under 16 years old, no matter what seat they’re in. All children under 8 years old must be in an appropriate child restraint system.

Drivers can get points on their license and pay a fine of up to $100 for each passenger under 16 not wearing a seatbelt. Front-seat passengers who are over 16 can be fined $50 if they’re caught without a seatbelt.

(Source: Times Union)

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging her colleagues to pass a Senate bill that would provide some relief to sick patients dealing with a rise in drug shortages. Gillibrand told reporters in Midtown on Sunday that there have been more than 100 drug shortages this year alone and 14 life-saving cancer drugs in short supply.

The bill, which has bipartisan support, would require drug manufactures to notify the Food and Drug Administration six months in advance about medication shortages.

“it’s simply unacceptable that children already suffering from serious disease don’t know whether the medicines that they need to treat their illnesses will be available,” said Gillibrand.

“She’s getting so much better, and she’s doing a great job, but it was absolutely terrifying, and this legislation seems so important,” said Tracy Early, whose daughter has leukemia.

Companies that do not comply could face up to $1.8 million in fines.

(Source: NY1)

The tragic story of the 19-year-old from a chareidi family who took his own life made its way to Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, who addressed the issue of the responsibility of rabbonim to their talmidim. Without mentioning the actual case in point, the rav’s weekly shiur addressed the topic of ושיננתם לבנך.

The gadol hador spoke of the responsibility of a rebbe and teacher to bring students closer, not chas v’sholom to distance them and strip them of their integrity and desire to be in yeshiva. The rav explained that the Rambam speaks of ושיננתם לבנך being “your students” and the need to accomplish this without anger.

One who throws a student from yeshiva signs his destiny to fall prey to foreign and evil cultures explains the rav, and rabbonim must always remains cognizant of this reality. Rav Ovadia speaks of the merit one attains by raising a talmid chacham, and what a marvelous reward one will receive in Olam Haba, lamenting just how many teachers and rabbonim lack patience and the love required to mold the future generation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

For some it was a day of thanks to HKBH, recitation of Hallel or possibly just omitting Tachnun. For others, it was a regular day, nothing special added or omitted from davening while for others, black flags adorned their building to display the mourning associated with the day the Zionists took control over occupied areas of the Jewish capital. At Merkaz HaRav Kook is was truly a yomtov, a day where talmidim and rabbonim clad in their Shabbos clothes danced and gave thanks for the privilege of being a part of this miracle, today experienced by the hundreds of thousands of Jews living in Yerushalayim as well as by Yidden worldwide, permitted to visit and daven at the Kosel and live in the holy city. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the event at Merkaz, vowing to never divide Yerushalayim.

What is for certain is that like Independence Day, it is a day that no longer seems to unite but divide. Perhaps this in its own right is significant as the visible crack in the seam of Am Yisrael’s collective neshama is increasingly visible.

The Flag Parade was held as is customary, well attended, as those who opted to celebrate in this fashion marched through downtown Jerusalem making their way to the Kosel. The parade in recent years has been separate, with men and women apart, both while walking and entering the Old City. A number of Jews were arrested as an altercation took place at Shar Shechem between Jews and Arabs after the latter began tossing bottles and trash at marchers. There are no reports of any Arabs being arrested. Overt 30,000 marchers took part in the Flag Parade.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

“Today’s chareidi women are more intelligence than chareidi men” stated MK (Yahadut HaTorah) Rav Moshe Gafne to a bar association gathering addressing discrimination against women.

Gafne addressed the bar association’s annual gathering in an Eilat hotel, defending the chareidi tzibur against the recent accusation of gender discrimination and more. Gafne told participants that accusations against the chareidi tzibur were unjustifiable “For I do not know anyone who spits at 12-year-old girls as was the case in Beit Shemesh. Yair Lapid arranged it, and a week later he announced his entry into politics. Chareidim did not spit on the 12-year-old girl. It was an individual”.

“You do not know the feeling that we, the chareidi tzibur lives with? There is a new attack weekly”.

The MK went on to address gender separation on public buses. “In Tokyo for example, if a male mistakenly boards a female bus they begin hitting him since the women don’t want a man bothering them on buses in the overcrowded conditions. If there is an understanding in the chareidi community that men and women sit apart who does this bother? If I am in officers training and a female singer performs, and I quietly request to leave for 2 or 3 minutes, what is the big problem with this?”

“It’s a mazel I was born with a sense of humor for if not, I would be crying over the absolute lack of communication between chareidim and the secular”.

Another speaker was former High Court of Justice President Meir Shamgar, who explained he believes the state erred by permitting segregated buses. “Women in Israel are entitled to do as they please”, expressing his opposition to gender segregation as seen in the chareidi community today.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Israel Police is now advertising for new cadets, including qualified candidates who speak Yiddish.

“Jerusalem Central District Police seeking qualified candidates who speak Yiddish (mother tongue level) for a challenging and interesting career. The advert addresses both men and women who are finishing their studies this year” an ad reads.

Jerusalem police officials explain during recent years an effort has been made to enlist members of other ethnicities too, including Russian speakers and members of the Ethiopian, Arab and other communities who are fluent in their native tongue.

The unit seeking the Yiddish speaker addresses major crimes, serial crimes, intelligence gathering and more.

Interested parties may email centralunitjerusalem@gmail.com, attention “Yoram”. Not suitable for students.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The city is set to close dozens of Brooklyn after-school programs, angering working parents who say there’s nowhere else for their kids to go.

Brooklyn is slated to lose 77 of its 154 Out of School Time programs in the fall, the most programs axed in any borough.

Many parents say they will have to give up jobs or school if the programs close. In a survey of Brooklyn parents by the NYC Campaign for Children, 32% said they would quit a job or educational opportunity, while 28% would leave kids alone.

The Bloomberg administration’s proposed budget cuts funding for the OST program from $91.5 million to $73.3 million, with 23,838 of 52,567 kids losing their seats.

Advocates estimate 10,000 of the slashed seats are in Brooklyn.

READ MORE: NY DAILY NEWS

Google Inc Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt challenged college graduates on Sunday to take the radical step — at least for their generation — of tearing their eyes away from their smartphones and computer screens.

“Take one hour a day and turn that thing off,” Schmidt told graduates at Boston University, where he received an honorary degree and was applauded by an audience that had grown up relying on the technology company’s search engine, e-mail and other services.

“Take your eyes off that screen and look into the eyes of the person you love. Have a conversation, a real conversation,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt’s advice came midway through his remarks and provided context around his broader message that electronic tools such as social media are positive forces. He said that “a distinctive feature of your new world is that you can be unique while being completely connected.” That feature, he said, is a “fulfillment of the American dream.”

Google executives are comfortable with broad statements, having made “Don’t be evil” a business motto and battled governments over Internet freedoms.

In his remarks, Schmidt did not address policy issues or business topics such as last week’s initial public offering of Facebook Inc, in many spaces a Google rival. Schmidt also offered traditional sentiments that included urging graduates to reach high and not be afraid to fail.

He also emphasized they will be armed with technology as never before. “You are emblems of the sense of possibility that will define this age,” he said, adding that, “If you’re awake, you’re online, you’re connected.

“Some of you are probably tweeting this speech right now.”

(Source: Reuters)

A special erev rosh chodesh tefilla will take place today, 29 Iyar 5772 in the Yeshuos Yaakov Shul in Yerushalayim’s Meah Shearim neighborhood at 15:50. All of Sefer Tehillim will be recited along with the tefilla of the Shela HaKadosh.

Mincha will get underway at 18:15 with recitation of Yom Kippur Koton.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

There was slight concern among doctors, members of the medical team treating Maran Posek HaDor HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita as his condition deteriorated somewhat last night, the eve of 29 Iyar 5772.

As a result of a fluctuation in the rav’s condition doctors in Shaare Zedek Medical Center ordered to halt the dialysis he was undergoing. It appears their main concern was a diminished mental state and accompanying hypotension (low blood pressure) which added to their concerns. Doctors are planning to resume dialysis today.

Yated calls on the tzibur to daven for the posek hador today, erev rosh chodesh Sivan, and as such, special tefilos will take place in many yeshivos. Special tefilos will be recited at 13:30 at the tziyun of Shmuel HaNavi.

The tzibur is requested to continue being mispallel for Rav Yosef Sholom ben Chaya Musha b’soch kol cholei am yisrael.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

This effort is labeled Operation Yonatan, taking place today, erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5772.

Much has been said regarding the terrible injustice that has been done to Yonatan. Now we have an opportunity to correct this. We all want to see Yonatan free. The first of Sivan when all of Am Yisrael stood at Har Sinai and waited to receive the Torah. This day is when prayer is easily accepted.

We ask everyone to please choose one of the following options: 1. Tshuva – accept on yourself one small change or do a good deed. (for example helping a friend or neighbor in need). 2. Tefillah – Recite all of Sefer Tehillim (even if divided among a number of people) and have Yonatan in mind. 3. Tzedaka – Give tzedaka in his merit or volunteer in a gemach.

A special tefilla has been written as well and it appears on the Ezrat Nashim website.

Anyone deciding to take part is requested to register by calling 0722-727-727 or emailing M4yonatan@gmail.com

Organizers are hoping to have 27,000 people register, one thousand people for each year Jonathan Pollard has served in prison.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Upon hearing that representatives of the Mifal HaShas were preparing to complete another siyum on Shas, their third, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita on erev Shabbos contacted Mifal HaShas officials, requesting that the seuda be held in his home together with him.

Rav Kanievsky and HaGaon Rav Zilberstein took part, listening to their completion of the shas once again. Rav Kanievsky then made a l’chaim, treating them to his ‘siyum wine’ and all present received a bracha.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

11:30PM EST: More than 400 photos have been loaded, with hundreds more to be added shortly. Thanks to our team of photographers, led by Hillel Engel & Chaim Greenbaum. See link in extended article.

10:45PM EST: HaRav Don Segal is now leading the crowd in Kabolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim.

10:40PM EST: Rav Ephrayim Waxman is leading the gathering in reciting the Tefillas HaShelah.

10:20PM EST: The Lakewood Mashgiach, HaRav Mattisyahu Solomon Shlita is now speaking (English).

9:40PM EST: HaRav Don Segal Shlita, the Mashgiach from Eretz Yisroel, is now speaking (Yiddish).

9:20PM EST: Hagon Rav Shmuel Halevy Wosner Shlita, the Baal Shevet Halevi is now speaking (Yiddish) via video-hookup from Israel (Bnei Brak).

8:50PM EST: The Skulener Rebbe Shlita has just started speaking (Yiddish). Moments before he started, the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita from Monsey (Reb Mottel) arrived.

8:20PM EST: Rav Ephraim Waxman Shlita is now speaking a second time – in English.

8:00PM EST: More than 1000 woman have packed the Bais Faiga Hall in Lakewood, NJ, and are watching a live video feed from the Asifa. There are dozens of other locations in many areas, which are packed with women watching the event.

7:50PM EST: The Jeboo Dayan from Montreal is now speaking (Yiddish).

7:42PM EST: Rav Ephraim Waxman has just ended his Drasha, and the Pshevorsk Rebbe, who flew in from Antwerp, Belgium, for the Asifa, is now speaking (Yiddish).

>7:30PM EST: Reb Menashe Frankel (Lakewood) just introduced Rav Ephraim Waxman (Monsey) is Yiddish. Rav Waxman is now speaking in English.

7:00PM EST: The stadiums are just about filled to capacity, and the program has begun.

Tehillim was recited by Rav Moshe Green (Monsey), and the Tzibur is now Davening Mincha.

5:40PM EST: Thousands of people have started arriving at the CitiField and Arthur Ashe Stadiums in Queens. Security is tight, and everyone is being thoroughly checked. Besides for Misaskim running the security detail, Hatzolah from just about every neighborhood is on hand, as well as Shomrim from many areas, and even Chaverim Volunteers are at the stadium.

Misaskim requests that everyone please be patient as security checks you into the stadiums.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos by Hillel Engel.

(Eli Gefen – YWN)

The $1 million pilot program funded by a grant from State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos will purchase about 150 security cameras, to be placed in the Borough Park and Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

The initiative is named after Leiby Kletzky, the eight-year-old boy who disappeared and then was found murdered last summer.

“If we can save one life out of this,” Skelos told 1010 WINS’ Terry Sheridan, “then the investment by the state will be worthwhile. We will have accomplished so much.”

The cameras would actually be owned and operated by private community groups.

“I don’t even want to talk about it all that much,” Assemblyman Dov Hikind said. “But we’ve had many incidents of anti-Semitism, and we talked about Leiby Kletzky.”

And as he and both Sen. Skelos said, they’re also cognizant of the possible target of terrorism.

“The concern of terrorism everywhere is a concern to us,” Hikind concluded.

(Source: WCBSTV)

Yes, there are problems in the chareidi community but not anything like the violence and all that accompanies the secular lifestyle of many Israeli public schools. As the left-wing and anti-religious in Eretz Yisrael remain committed to compelling the chareidi schools to comply with their educational agenda, the reality in the nation’s public schools becomes increasingly worrisome by the day. Nevertheless, the anti-religious manage to keep the chareidi tzibur in the spotlight, viewing the tzibur as its sacrificial lamb for all that is wrong with Israel today.

The latest scandal surrounds a group of students from a Herzliya school that visited Poland, a visit to the death camps and all that entails. It now appears the students used the opportunity of being out of the country and away from their parents to use narcotics and they were quite stoned as they visited the Nazi death camps, ghettos and other site associated with such a trip. According to a Yediot Achronot report, the high schoolers purchased the drugs locally, in Poland.

Apparently some of the teachers suspected something was wrong as many students were acting strangely. Eventually, some of the students who did not use the drugs informed the teachers what was going on. Following their return home they were questioned by police and many of the students admitted to using hashish.

Representing some of the students is attorney Eyal Ochaiyon, who decried the actions of police, insisting a criminal investigation is unnecessary, referring to his clients as “regular normative teens”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

After the sharp increase in violent attacks and crimes perpetrated by illegal aliens from African nations over recent weeks, the issue of the growing number of illegals crossing into Israel from Sinai is dominating the news.

Addressing the matter on Sunday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained that the problem is a serious one, which began seven years ago, assuring the nation “it can be solved”. He spoke of cracking down on those businesses who hire illegals, stiffer fines, more law enforcement and most of all, the ongoing construction of a physical barrier along the border and the deployment of troops until the barrier is in place.

The prime media told members of the media at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting that “Currently there are 60,000 infiltrators in Israel, but if we do not stop this number can easily reach 600,000″.

Police Chief Yochanan Danino, the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) and other agencies have all been brought into play as part of the united effort to regain control of the border. The illegals are literally terrorizing southern Tel Aviv and areas of Eilat, where they seem to have migrated illegally and as a result, many Israeli are afraid to come near those areas due to the violent attacks attributed to the illegals.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)