U.S.
The U.S. military launched “Project Freedom” this week, escorting commercial vessels through the Iranian-blockaded Strait of Hormuz in a dramatic show of force that saw American warships sink six Iranian speedboats and shoot down drones and cruise missiles.
Iran has blockaded the strategically vital waterway since late February, when the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against the Iranian regime, causing a global energy shock that has pushed gas prices to $4.46 a gallon nationally. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, confirmed that American forces successfully cleared a mine-free passage and that all threats were neutralized. President Trump, who announced the operation on Truth Social, made clear that any Iranian interference “will have to be dealt with forcefully,” while also indicating he still hopes for a diplomatic deal before resuming full hostilities.
In a historic first, President Donald Trump this week proclaimed a National Shabbat — “Shabbat 250” — calling on Americans of all backgrounds to observe Shabbos from sundown May 15 to nightfall May 16, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The proclamation, part of Trump’s designation of May as Jewish American Heritage Month, marks the first time in American history that a sitting president has formally called for a National Sabbath. Invoking President George Washington’s 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport — in which Washington pledged the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance” — Trump wrote that the day “will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude.” Agudath Israel of America immediately issued a statement of support, thanking the president “for recognizing the important role of the Jewish people and Shabbos in the history of the United States.”
Spirit Airlines officially ceased operations this week, ending the turbulent run of the ultra-low-cost carrier that had filed for bankruptcy twice since 2024. The airline had been seeking a $500 million lifeline from the Trump administration to stay afloat, but negotiations collapsed without a deal. The shutdown left thousands of travelers scrambling to rebook flights and left workers without jobs. Spirit had for years distinguished itself by charging bare-bones base fares while adding fees for everything from carry-ons to seat selection. Passengers holding Spirit tickets were advised to seek refunds through their credit card companies and book alternative flights immediately, as the airline stopped accepting new reservations.
A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a light pole and a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Airport Sunday afternoon, triggering federal investigations and raising fresh aviation safety alarms. Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, clipped the pole and slammed into the truck during its descent to the shorter Runway 29. Miraculously, all aboard the plane were unharmed, and the truck driver suffered only minor injuries from broken glass. Dash cam footage from inside the bakery truck captured the terrifying moment. The National Transportation Safety Board classified the occurrence as an accident and dispatched an investigator, while the FAA confirmed it is separately probing the incident.
A shooting incident near the Washington Monument rattled the capital Monday when a man allegedly opened fire on Secret Service agents, injuring a child who was caught in the chaos. U.S. Secret Service personnel responded swiftly, and one individual was shot during the officer-involved incident. The area surrounding the monument was temporarily closed as law enforcement secured the scene. Details about the suspect and motive were still emerging as of press time. The episode comes amid heightened security concerns across the country, with authorities on alert following a string of high-profile incidents near government facilities in recent months.
New York
Coordinated antisemitic vandalism struck the heart of Queens’ Jewish community early Monday morning, leaving swastikas spray-painted on the Rego Park Jewish Center, the Congregation Machane Chodosh, and two homes in Forest Hills — including one bearing a Holocaust memorial plaque. Surveillance footage shows four individuals crouching near the Rego Park Jewish Center just after 1 a.m. before fleeing. The incident came as NYPD released data showing Jews, who comprise just 10% of the city’s population, were targeted in a staggering 60% of all hate crimes in April. Senator Chuck Schumer, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani all condemned the attacks. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating.
New York lost one of its most beloved voices Monday as John Sterling, the legendary Yankees radio broadcaster, passed away at the age of 87. The Queens-born Jewish announcer, born John Sloss, spent 36 remarkable years calling games for the Bronx Bombers beginning in 1989, racking up 5,060 consecutive broadcasts before finally taking a day off in 2019. His thunderous home run call — “It is high! It is far! It is gone!” — and his signature victory cry — “Theeeeee Yankees win!” — became the defining soundtrack of summer for generations of New York fans. Sloss, who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, changed his name to Sterling early in his broadcasting career. He had suffered a heart attack in January and passed away Monday from heart failure. He is survived by four children.
A newly released poll reveals that a large majority of New York City’s Jewish voters are deeply dissatisfied with Mayor Mamdani, with 58% rating his performance “fair” or “poor,” and most linking his anti-Zionist posture directly to the city’s surging antisemitism. The survey found that 61% of Jewish respondents believe Mamdani’s refusal to explicitly denounce the phrase “Globalize the Intifada” has emboldened pro-Hamas protesters. Critics note that Mamdani received just 26% of the Jewish vote in November’s mayoral race. He has since revoked the city’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, lifted an anti-BDS order, and vetoed bipartisan legislation designed to curb protest activity near schools — moves Jewish organizations have condemned as directly fueling the dangerous climate Jews now face.
ISRAEL
The IDF’s 205th Brigade successfully completed a two-month operation in northern Gaza this week, destroying eight tunnel routes and killing dozens of terrorists in a major counter-terror sweep east of the Yellow Line. Troops used specialized drilling technology to locate and dismantle the underground infrastructure that Hamas has relied upon to resupply fighters and shelter commanders. The Yellow Line, established under the U.S.-brokered October 2025 ceasefire, demarcates areas under IDF control from those still held by Hamas.
Israel’s Navy intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near the Greek island of Crete last week, seizing 22 vessels and detaining 175 activists before transferring them to Greece — neutralizing a Hamas-orchestrated provocation designed to derail Gaza peace progress. Israeli officials branded the flotilla a political stunt rather than a genuine humanitarian mission, noting that over 1.5 million tons of aid has entered Gaza through official international channels. Drugs and recreational items were found aboard intercepted boats, undercutting activists’ humanitarian claims. Two flotilla leaders — a Spanish national and a Brazilian — remained in Israeli custody facing charges of assisting the enemy and membership in a terrorist organization. Turkey announced plans for a follow-up flotilla, prompting Israel to activate diplomatic channels with Ankara.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this week that Israel is investing in a sweeping upgrade of its air power and domestic arms production capabilities, aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on foreign military suppliers amid growing international pressure. Netanyahu revealed that Israel will develop new domestically produced aircraft — including what he described as “groundbreaking” designs that will “change the entire picture” — as part of a broader decade-long effort to build a self-sufficient defense industry. The announcement follows years of concern that European arms embargoes and diplomatic isolation could impair Israel’s operational capacity. The first of Israel’s new U.S.-built KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft is also expected to be delivered within the coming month.
Hezbollah launched drone and anti-tank missile attacks against IDF forces stationed in southern Lebanon, triggering air-raid sirens in the Upper Galilee border town of Kibbutz Misgav Am and sending 400 residents into bomb shelters. The IDF successfully intercepted the drones before they crossed into Israeli territory, and struck back, killing armed Hezbollah operatives who had been spotted near IDF positions in two separate incidents, using drones deployed by the elite Multi-Domain unit. The IDF also destroyed an 80-meter Hezbollah tunnel in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, a facility that included several living quarters used by operatives. The ongoing attacks come as Israeli-Lebanese negotiations remain stalled, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insisting a security pact must be finalized before any meeting with Netanyahu.
Israel’s Knesset-approved expansion of compensation benefits for bereaved military families went into effect this week, with about 9,200 orphans of fallen soldiers beginning to receive new monthly state grants under Amendment No. 47 to the Families of Soldiers Killed in Action Law. The amendment, passed in January, provides tiered monthly grants: orphans aged 21 to 30 receive 3,652 shekels (approximately $1,237), those aged 30 to 40 receive 2,000 shekels, and widows and additional family members receive separate benefits. The move was praised across Israel’s political spectrum as a long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices borne by military families, particularly in the wake of the multi-front war that has seen thousands of Israeli casualties since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
WORLD
Russia and Ukraine declared dueling ceasefires this week in what analysts are calling a diplomatic standoff dressed up in the language of peace — with Putin announcing a May 8–9 truce to coincide with Russia’s WWII Victory Day celebrations, and President Zelenskyy countering with Ukraine’s own ceasefire starting at midnight Tuesday. Putin had first raised the idea during a phone call with President Trump last week. Russia’s Defense Ministry warned that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the Victory Day parade would trigger “a massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” and urged foreign diplomats and civilians to evacuate the capital. Ukraine has recently intensified long-range drone strikes deep inside Russia, including on Moscow, further complicating the atmosphere.
Britain raised its national terrorism threat level to “severe” — the second-highest on a five-point scale — following a terrorist stabbing attack in Golders Green, North London, in which two Jewish men were seriously wounded by a Somalian refugee. Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency cross-sector meeting Tuesday, bringing together business, civil society, and policing leaders alongside Jewish community representatives, pledging a coordinated national response. The government announced an unprecedented £25 million in additional funding to protect Jewish institutions — bringing total annual protective funding to £58 million. Counterterror police are also probing a second arson attack this week at a former synagogue in Whitechapel. Some attacks have been linked to a new Iran-connected extremist network. Britain’s chief rabbi declared that “if you are visibly Jewish, you’re not safe.”
The United States and Iran continued trading fire in the Strait of Hormuz this week, with Iranian forces launching cruise missiles, drones, and speedboat attacks on commercial vessels being escorted by the U.S. Navy under Operation Project Freedom, raising fears that the fragile ceasefire between the two nations is on the verge of collapse. Iran also launched drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates, striking the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and triggering air-raid sirens across the Gulf state. U.S. forces intercepted all incoming threats and sank six Iranian boats. The UAE, a key American ally, confirmed it had come under fire for the first time since the ceasefire began.
France’s Jewish community is experiencing a crisis of confidence, with a new survey finding that nearly four out of five French Jews feel unsafe in the country — a stunning indictment of French society and a warning sign that the global rise in antisemitism shows no signs of abating. The survey, released this week, reflects the growing anxiety among Jewish communities across Western Europe as antisemitic incidents, fueled in part by pro-Iran and pro-Hamas sentiment following the October 7 attacks and the ongoing war, continue to escalate. French authorities have struggled to contain radicalized elements even as the government publicly condemns antisemitism. Community leaders in France report that Jewish institutions are increasingly fortifying their security and that emigration to Israel and North America is accelerating.
sNiPpeEtS oF StRaNgE
A Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to San Diego was delayed for more than an hour after a 4-foot-tall, 70-pound robot named Bebop boarded the plane with its own ticket, because air travel was not already complicated enough.
Eily Ben-Abraham of Elite Event Robotics said he and Bebop boarded the flight Thursday after purchasing the robot a seat. The first problem came when Bebop was placed in an aisle seat, which violated Southwest’s policy for large carry-on items.
The robot was moved to a window seat, which is more than many human passengers get without paying extra.
Then airline staff began asking about Bebop’s batteries. It turned out the robot’s lithium battery was larger than Southwest allows, so the flight could only leave after the battery was removed and confiscated.
Ben-Abraham and the now-inert Bebop continued on to San Diego, arriving with the robot in what was essentially “airplane mode.”
Elite Event Robotics said Bebop will continue flying commercially – just without batteries installed, making it possibly the first passenger required to travel emotionally present but physically unavailable.
A 23-year-old German man has broken the Guinness World Record for solving a Rubik’s cube while skydiving, because apparently solving one at a kitchen table was no longer stressful enough.
Tom Kopke jumped out of a plane over Mossel Bay, South Africa, and solved the cube in 23.333 seconds before opening his parachute – beating the previous record of 28.25 seconds.
Kopke said he first learned to solve the cube at 18 and had long wanted to attempt the challenge while falling through the sky, which is the kind of sentence that makes parents everywhere stare silently into the distance.
He admitted he was mostly worried about dropping the cube midair. “The most dangerous part is actually the handover,” he said, comparing it to a baton exchange in track and field – except, in this case, the baton is a toy, the track is the atmosphere, and the field is very far below.
A Georgia family has been reunited with their cat seven years after he disappeared during a move in California, proving once again that cats will return home eventually – but only when they feel like it.
The Davidson family adopted Dodger as a kitten in 2016. Two years later, while the family was moving from California to Florida, Dodger escaped from a friend’s vehicle in the Fresno area and vanished.
For seven years, his whereabouts were unknown. Then a volunteer at an animal rescue discovered that one of the cats rounded up for a spay-and-neuter program had a microchip.
It was Dodger.
The family, now living in Georgia, was able to reunite with him after the volunteer, who was already planning a trip to Florida, arranged to help get him back.
The volunteer said the family was thrilled to have him home with “his boys.” Dodger, meanwhile, is believed to be preparing a memoir titled, Seven Years, Three States, And I Still Refuse To Explain Myself.
A team of 100 Italian chefs gathered in London to assemble the world’s longest tiramisu, measuring 1,445 feet – finally answering the question: “What if dessert required a municipal permit?”
The massive treat was built at Chelsea Town Hall and confirmed by a Guinness World Records adjudicator, who presumably spent the day making sure no one tried to count lasagna by mistake.
The dessert shattered the previous record, an 897-foot tiramisu made in Milan in 2019.
The organizer had previously held the record in 2017 before losing it in 2019, because apparently competitive tiramisu is a thing and Italy is not playing around.
The finished dessert contained about 2.2 tons of mascarpone cheese, 50,000 ladyfinger cookies, and more than 3,000 eggs – or, as one nutritionist might call it, “a situation.”
An Indiana sheriff’s deputy was dispatched last week for what sounded like a routine “animal in the roadway” call and instead arrived to find what appeared to be a full-scale barnyard jailbreak.
The deputy responded to the report and discovered that goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese had all apparently decided the farm life was no longer for them.
Body camera footage shared by the department showed the deputy calmly herding the escapees back into a gated area, which is presumably not what they covered in detail at the police academy.
Thankfully, no animals were harmed, and everyone was returned to where they belonged – although several chickens reportedly declined to comment on whether they plan to appeal.
