This week’s parshah is a powerful exhortation to live a life of k’dushah. Haftaras K’doshim links the rejection of k’dushah to Galus. If we Yidden fall into error – G-d forbid – then we are ejected from our Holy Land and thrown into the mouth of the lion.

NEW YORK NEWS

 Amidst the fury sparked by the vandalism of the Central Park World War I memorial by anti-Israel protesters, Mayor Eric Adams took a firm stance, expressing his love for America and pledging $5,000 of his own money to the reward offered for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. Emphasizing the importance of defending symbols of freedom, Adams condemned the desecration and stressed the need to speak out against such acts.

Daniel Kravitz, the owner of a secondhand furniture shop in Denver, was taken aback by the customer who entered his store. The young man was dressed like a hoodlum, with a shaved head and bare arms covered with tattoos, including the venomous message, “Kill Jews!” It was clear he was a neo-Nazi.

Recap: A blizzard started up while Akiva and Betzalel were in Mount McKinley National Park with Joe and the dog sled. Things are really going wrong. Akiva trips and hurts his ankle. Akiva is worried that his parents won’t be able to fly in from Seattle for his bar mitzvah because of the snow. He also hopes their Zeidy isn’t worried about them. Joe goes out to gather firewood because there’s a pack of wolves outside.

NEW YORK NEWS

 Columbia University has decided to cancel its university-wide commencement ceremony scheduled for May 15, citing security concerns amidst ongoing disruptive and violent protests, particularly related to anti-Israel demonstrations. Instead, the university will hold smaller-scale, school-based celebrations, where students will be honored individually alongside their peers.