From the desk of Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht, Shliach in Norwalk, Connecticut: We need to judge for ourselves whether something is proper and good, or corrosive and injurious, and  to be negated. Is this going to nurture the good within me, or will it feed the potential for evil that lurks  within? Judging alone is not enough, there must be the willpower to enforce our sense of right and wrong • Click to Read

As of yesterday, over 200 cases of COVID-19 have been verified in the Chassidic enclave of Kfar Chabad in Eretz Yisroel, placing it in the country’s “red” category. According to the Hebrew language website Kikar Hashabbat over 70% of the cases are children and at this time none of the current cases in the village are of a serious nature • Full Story 

Israeli health authorities began administering coronavirus booster shots Friday to people over 60 who’ve already received both does of a vaccine, in a bid to combat a recent spike in cases. The decision was announced Thursday by the Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, making Israel the first country to offer a third dose of a Western vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale

Rabbi Berel Lazar, Russia’s Chief  Rabbi and Senior Shliach, called on the country’s Jews to get vaccinated with the ‘Sputnik-V’ vaccine, given free of charge in Russia. The Russian vaccine drew much skepticism at first due to its extremely rushed released following limited clinical trials. However, following further extensive research, Rabbi Lazar wrote that “we have talked to many doctors and everyone says that the vaccine is completely safe and those who have not yet been vaccinated should hurry up” • Full Story

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that he hoped not to impose new restrictions despite a rise in the number of new virus cases, citing the lack of increase in the number of patients hospitalized. On Friday, Israel reimposed an indoor mask requirement, as over 200 new COVID-19 cases were recorded during the previous day, the highest daily caseload in two and a half months • Full Story

Coronavirus Czar Prof. Nachman Ash this evening (Thursday) briefed reporters following the rise in morbidity and called on the public to wear masks. Ash said: “We are close to returning to the obligation to wear masks in closed spaces, I recommend doing so now” • Full Story

“Today is Day 472. Today is Tuesday.” And effective immediately, state-mandated COVID restrictions are eliminated, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as he announced New York had achieved his 70% adult partial vaccination milestone early • Full Story

The New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide significant economic relief to help low and moderate-income households at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by providing rental arrears, temporary rental assistance and utility arrears assistance • Full Story

Permanent residents in Israel (toshavei keva) must now present entry permits to board flights to Israel, a change made by the authorities without any prior notice, according to the Chaim V’Chessed organization on Thursday • Full Story

New York state mass-vaccination sites will open to walk-ins beginning Thursday, removing another barrier to vaccination efforts. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said demand for Covid-19 vaccines across the state was waning and people are no longer chasing appointments. About 115,000 New York residents are vaccinated every 24 hours now, down from 175,000, he said Tuesday during a press briefing • Full Story

U.S. health officials lifted an 11-day pause on COVID-19 vaccinations using Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot on Friday, after scientific advisers decided its benefits outweigh a rare risk of blood clot • Full Story

The last two coronavirus wards still open in Israel’s hospitals closed on Monday as infection and fatality rates continue to drop, Ynet reported. Article courtesy of Yeshiva World News • Full Story

The public is asked to say Tehillim for a patient in serious condition due to covid-19. The name for Tehillim is Chaim Yitzchak Menashe Ben Yona • Tehillim

The public is asked to say Tehillim for a patient in very serious condition due to covid-19. The name for Tehillim is Chaim Dekel HaLevi Ben Vered • Tehillim

Chaim V’Chessed has learned that, effective immediately, entry permits to Israel will no longer be issued to student visa holders. This sudden decision by the Israeli authorities is due to the discovery of fraudulent activity involving entry permits. Several non-students have been caught in recent days entering Israel under the guise of students • Full Story

The public is asked to say Tehillim for a Shlucha who is in critical condition with COVID-19. The name for Tehillim is Chana Rivkah Bas Sheindel • Tehillim

Israel will start allowing the limited entry of vaccinated tourist groups next month as its own inoculation campaign has sharply brought down COVID-19 infections, an official statement said on Tuesday • Full Story

The U.S. is recommending a “pause” in using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots • Full Story

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he’s bumping up his deadline by two weeks for states to make all adults in the U.S. eligible for coronavirus vaccines. But even as he expressed optimism about the pace of vaccinations, he warned Americans that the nation is not yet out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic • Full Story

People who paid for the funeral and burial expenses of someone who died from Covid-19 will be offered expanded federal financial support starting on Monday, according to an announcement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency • Full Story

The public is asked to say Tehillim for a Shlucha who is in a serious condition due to covid-19. The name for Tehillim is Chana Rivkah Bas Shaindel • Tehillim

If you’re still disinfecting just about everything you own to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it’s time to stop.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance Monday for how to clean and disinfect surfaces properly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at home and in facilities • Full Story

For the past few months, Israel has been stringently limiting the entry of foreigners. Due to these restrictions, students have been barred from entering the country, even if they have already commenced studies in the country. For this reason, many students, wisely, refrained from travel during the Pesach season, due the the real fear of being prevented from returning to Israel • Full Story

The Mesivta in Paris, France needed to go to the Rebbe for Yud Alef Nissan after more than a year of being unable to do so due to the pandemic but the United States is not allowing flights from Europe at this time due to concerns of variants spreading so the Hanholoh of the Yeshiva came up with a clever solution, the Yeshiva transplanted itself in Serbia for two weeks • Full Story, Photos