It was not too long before Rosh Hashanah that officials in the Trump administration signaled they may not comply with the agreement signed by the Obama administration and Tehran. These words were met by an Iranian response, warning the new administration doing so would result in Washington’s loss of credibility in the international community. If we move ahead just a bit, to Shabbos, 3 Tishrei 5778, we now face a new reality, a brazen Iranian move, the firing of a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, a missile that was just revealed to the international community on Friday, during a military parade in Tehran. The Khorramshahr missile has a range of 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) and can carry multiple warheads, according to Press TV. “The Khorramshahr miss...
Rosh HaShanah 5778 / Baltimore Zmanim  -  Shabbos Parshas Ha’azinu - Eruv is UP! Baltimore, MD – Sept. 20, 2017  ERUV TAVSHILIN Hadlakas Nairos: 6:48 PM Shkiah:                   7:06:43 PM Tzais HaKochavim:  7:57 pm, 8:19 PM Hadlakas Nairos 2nd Night Rosh Hashana Thursday evening 8:18 PM Hadlakas Nairos Erev Shabbos Friday evening 6:45 PM   Kiddush Levanah:  Shabbos, Sept. 23  5:07 PM through Oct. 5 11:29 AM Kiddush Levanah may only be said at night
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 6, 2017 -  Representatives from area Shuls and community security organizations convened today at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion for the annual pre-Yom Tov security briefing arranged by Councilman Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer. Councilman Schleifer has made community safety and security a priority and since taking office there has been a 10 fold increase in law enforcement coverage over the Yomim Tovim. Today's briefing was attended by the highest-ranking officers of the Baltimore City Police Department, including Chief Melissa Hyatt, Major Lewis, Captain Jason Yerg, Detective Jeremy Silbert and Officer William Curry. The officers relayed detailed information that is critical for the safety of the community during this very visible period of the Jewish calendar. ...
Dear Friends: Welcome to the first communication from the Intechigence Project. Your active participation will determine the future success of this project. I don't know anyone who is "happy" with how they are using technology. We recognize the benefits of technology - which is something that we want to take advantage of - but we are more and more aware of the costs, as we feel it eroding our self-control and peace of mind. Our goal is to use technology wisely, to have it as an effective tool in our hands instead of feeling that we are caught in its grip. We all want to do this, but the struggle we face is to be mindful and consistent in dealing with it. We make up our minds to make a change, but then we slip back into old patterns. With INTECHIGENCE, we will try to bring two too...
Parshas Ha’azinu is described in the Torah as a “Shira” - “Song”, and is known as “Shira’as Ha’azinu” (31:19, 32:44). Why did Hashem ordain that specifically this Parshah, the Parshah which promises us that no matter how low we sink we will always be redeemed (32:36. See Rashbam and Ohr HaChaim), should be a song? Furthermore, Judaism puts a strong emphasis on singing in general; At the Shabbos, table we sing zemiros. In Shul, especially during the Yomim Norayim (High Holy Days), we spend much time singing. In fact, one of the services in the Bais HaMikdash was the Levi’im’s songs. Why is there such a value placed on song in Judaism? Wouldn’t it be better to remove the practice of singing by the Shabbos table, during ...
Amassive magnitude 7.1 earthquake stunned central Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least 139 people as buildings collapsed in plumes of dust. Thousands fled into the streets in panic, and many stayed to help rescue those trapped. Dozens of buildings tumbled into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings fell at 44 places in the capital alone as high-rises across the city swayed sickeningly. Among the missing is an Orthodox Jew man – a Mechutan of Chief Rabbi Shlomo Tawil – whose office building collapsed and hasn’t been found. Please be Mispallel for Chaim ben Emilia, R'L.  Mexico Hatzolah is on the scene sifting thought the rubble and desperately ...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 19, 2017 - On the first day of סליחות, the Yeshiva hosted a Yarchei Kallah with three shuls. BJSZ (Rabbi Moshe Hauer) Shomrei Emunah (Rabbi Binyomin Marwick) and Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim (Rabbi Shmuel Silber). The day started with התעוררות from the Mashgiach, Harav Beryl Weisbord. Mareh Mekomos were given out in preparation for a shiur on Eruv Tavshilin given by Harav Tzvi Einstadter. The day finished with a shiur on Rosh Hashana by Harav Shraga Neuberger. (Photo Credit: Reb Eli Greengart)    
An abandoned proposal to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 presidential election was “solely a real estate deal and nothing more,” the personal lawyer for President Donald Trump told congressional staff on Tuesday. Michael Cohen was appearing privately before the Senate Intelligence Committee, one of multiple congressional panels investigating Russian interference in the presidential race and potential ties to the Trump campaign. Special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of investigators are conducting their own criminal investigation. In a prepared statement obtained by The Associated Press, Cohen addressed revelations from last month that the Trump Organization had considered doing business in Russia through a proposed Trump Tower in Moscow around the ...
A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook central Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing homes and bridges across hundreds of miles, killing at least 105 people and sending thousands more fleeing into the streets screaming. In Mexico City alone, at least 30 people died and 44 buildings were reduced to rubble, the Associated Press reported. Eight other people were reported killed in the surrounding state of Mexico, 13 in the state of Puebla and 54 across the state of Morelos. The temblor caused buildings to sway violently in the capital, including in the historic districts of El Centro and Roma, crumbling balconies and causing huge cracks to appear on the facades. . Panic spread through the city's central core, where dozens of buildings collapsed. Rescue vehicles screamed toward damaged buildings, and...
Kohl’s, which is opening some in-store Amazon shops, will start accepting returns for the online retailer at some of its stores in Los Angeles and Chicago starting next month. Kohl’s Corp. said Tuesday it will pack and ship eligible Amazon return items for free at the 82 stores offering the service. There will be designated parking spots near the Kohl’s store entrances for those doing Amazon returns. While the service will allow Kohl’s customers to skip their local post office for Amazon returns, it also gets them into Kohl’s stores — where they might then shop. The department store had previously announced plans to open 1,000-square-foot Amazon areas in 10 of its stores in Chicago and Los Angeles that will sell Amazon Echos, Fire tablets and oth...
Lately, I heard a wonderful story about saving someone’s life with a simple “good morning”. There’s also the famous story told about the Shochet (ritual slaughterer) who was locked in the factory’s freezer at the end of the day. The guard, who was so used to his greeting upon entering and leaving, saved him after realizing that he hadn’t said good night to him that evening. Actually, I have my own story to tell. At one point in my “career”, I took an on-line job. Seemingly simple, there was an art to it and it didn’t go well for me. One day I called an office and the nurse answered, telling me what she thought of me, kind words ranging from liar to con artist. After that phone call, I decided to finish the day and quit. My next call ...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 19, 2017 - Although Rosh Hashana is the first of the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, we don't ask for forgiveness in the tefillos of the day. We don't either focus on the aspect of judgement-rather, we focus on recognizing Hashem as the ruler of the entire universe, with the prayer that the entire world will understand this. Before Rosh Hashana, it is important for us to define our mission statement and make sure that what we do matches up with those goals. When we align our mission to Hashem's mission for the world, we can ask for another year of life, and ask forgiveness for the sins that we did which do not match up with our real mission and purpose.  Click here to listen
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked central Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing some buildings, cracking the facades of others and scattering rubble on streets less than two weeks after another tremor killed at least 90 in the country’s south. Mexican media broadcast images of several downed buildings in heavily populated parts of Mexico City and nearby Cuernavaca. A column of smoke rose from a structure in one central neighborhood in the capital. Dramatic video showed a mid-rise building collapsing into a cloud of dust. It was not clear whether there were people inside. The quake caused buildings to sway sickeningly in Mexico City and sent panicked office workers streaming into the streets, but the full extent of the damage was not yet clear. There were no immediate reports of deaths. Th...
Mr. Secretary General, Mr. President, world leaders, and distinguished delegates, welcome to New York. It is a profound honor to stand here in my home city as a representative of the American people to address the people of the world. As millions of our citizens continue to suffer the effects of the devastating hurricanes that have struck our country, I want to begin by expressing my appreciation to every leader in this room who has offered assistance and aid. The American people are strong and resilient, and they will emerge from these hardships more determined than ever before. Fortunately, the United States has done very well since Election Day last November 8. The stock market is at an all-time high, a record. Unemployment is at its lowest level in 16 years, and because of our regulat...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 19, 2017 - For weeks, the Baltimore community was seeing placards, posters, and bumper stickers, inviting us to “The Dinner of a Century.” Indeed, the event did not disappoint, as over 1300 people gathered at the exclusive Martin’s West on Dogwood Road on Sunday, September 10 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our very own Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim/Talmudical Academy.   The beautiful evening was chaired by Mr. Yehuda Neuberger and Mr. Jerry Wolasky, and featured moving entertainment by Rabbi Baruch Levine, including a beautiful original composition, “Legacy of Generations,” lauding the history of TA. Harav Aharon Feldman, shlita, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, and a member of YCC/TA’s first graduating class in 19...
Hurricane Maria smashed into Dominica with 160 mph winds, ripping the roof off even the prime minister’s residence and causing what he called “mind-boggling” devastation Tuesday as it plunged into a Caribbean region already ravaged by Hurricane Irma. The storm was on a track to wallop Puerto Rico on Wednesday “with a force and violence that we haven’t seen for several generations,” the territory’s governor said. Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said on his Facebook page that “initial reports are of widespread devastation” and said he feared there would be deaths due to rain-fed landslides. “So far the winds have swept away the roofs of almost every person I have spoken to or otherwise made contact with,” Skerrit ...
Los Angeles was jolted by a small earthquake that rattled nerves and got people talking on social media, but didn’t cause any major damage. The magnitude 3.6 quake hit around 11:20 p.m. Monday and was felt by thousands of residents in west Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, across the San Fernando Valley and as far north as the Antelope Valley. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter was about 3.6 miles (6 kilometers) northwest of the Westwood neighborhood, home to the University of California, Los Angeles. Residents near UCLA reported feeling a sharp jolt followed by a short rumble. Some said they were shaken awake in bed. Former Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox, whose Westwood home was rattled, tweeted that the quake “wasn’t funny.” Authorities sa...
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a small earthquake in southeastern Illinois was felt across parts of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. The USGS says the preliminary 3.8-magnitude earthquake occurred at 6:47 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday about 7 ½ miles (12 kilometers) northeast of the city of Albion (AL’-bee-uhn). The agency says the quake caused light to moderate shaking and very light damage. The quake’s preliminary depth was a little more than 7 miles (11.5 kilometers). The Edwards County Sheriff’s office in Albion says there have been no reports of damage or injuries. The USGS says shaking was felt in Terre Haute and near Bloomington in Indiana, Owesboro and Paduch in Kentucky, and Effingham and Carbondale in Illinois. Albion is about 140 miles (...
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