News Sparks: Hundreds of Stranded Passengers seek Answers from JetBlue; BDE: Esther Pollard, Wife of Jonathan Pollard, Dies at 68 and more

Hundreds of Stranded Passengers seek Answers from JetBlue

JFK is experiencing major delays due to the winter storm in addition to staffing shortages. According to Flight Aware, more than 70 JetBlue flights were canceled Monday at JFK. 

Frustration passengers expressed their annoyance on social media saying they were only provided vague updates and no proper accommodations were set up during the ordeal. 

“Been stuck at JFK for 12 hours, no communication no anything and they refuse to cancel the flight basically keeping us hostage for our luggage. Plus your terminal has no pet relief areas! Not cool @JetBlue,” one angry traveler tweeted.

JetBlue apologized to customers Monday over the delays, saying it often takes days to recover from such a large-scale winter storm.

BDE: Esther Pollard, Wife of Jonathan Pollard, Dies at 68

Esther Pollard, the wife of Jonathan Pollard, passed away early Monday morning in Israel after battling cancer for years and was rushed to the hospital this weekend after contracting Covid.  

“I did not imagine in my worst nightmares that I would lose Esther. After decades of fighting for my release, I felt so helpless that I could not help her in her struggle for life,” Jonathan Pollard told Israeli media.

Esther and Jonathan were married while the latter was serving a multi-decade prison sentence in the United States.

Jonathan was arrested in 1985, convicted of espionage, and sentenced to life in prison. He was eventually released in 2015 but was kept in the United States by parole rules. The couple moved to Israel soon after the restrictions were removed.

Man Charged with Painting Swastikas in DC; Several hate incidents reported in Chicago

A man caught painting Swastikas on public and private property in Washington DC was arrested and charged Friday.

Authorities say he spray-painted the symbol of Jewish hate on the pillars of Union Station in addition to several private locations. 

This incident was followed by several more hate crimes in Chicago this Shabbos. The F.R.E.E. synagogue in Chicago, Illinois was also vandalized with swastikas and one constituent was physically assaulted on his way to Mincha prayers hours prior.

The Jewish community in Chicago was alerted and the Chicago PD has at least one individual connected to the recent string of attacks. 

Panic Ensues After a Gunshot is Heard in Kings Plaza Mall

A personal dispute led to chaos at Kings Plaza Mall in Marine Park earlier today.

After a shot was heard, people panicked believing a shooter was targeting random shoppers inside the mall. Dozens of Police Officers flooded the mall, some carrying high-caliber rifles.

Fortunately, there was no active shooter but rather an isolated fallout in which an individual was shot in the leg.