During the Second Temple, the Greek empire reigned (over Israel),1 and they (the Greeks) passed decrees against the Jews and (tried) to erase their religion, and did not allow them to carry out Torah (study) or the commandments. They put their hands on their property and their daughters. They entered the Temple, destroyed and made the pure unclean. The Jews were in great distress because of them and were much oppressed, until the G-d of their fathers had mercy on them, delivering them from their hands and saving them. Then overcame, the sons of the Hasmonean High Priest, (the Greeks) and killed them and saved the Jews from their hands. They appointed a king from the Priests, and the kingdom of Israel was restored for more than 200 years until the destruction of (the) second (Temple). When the Jews overcame their enemies and destroyed them, it was the 25th of Kislev2 when they entered the Sanctuary (inner room) and did not find pure (olive) oil in the Temple, except one jar sealed with seal of the High Priest, and it did not contain enough to light except for one day only. But they lit from it the lamps of the Menorah3 for eight days, until they could crush olives and produce a (new quantity) of pure oil. For these reasons, decreed the Sages of that generation that these eight days that begin on the 25th Kislev, will be days of joy and praise. One lights on them lamps at evening at the entrance to the houses, every evening of the eight nights to show off and demonstrate the miracle. These days are called ''Hanukah'' that is to say ''they rested'' (chanu) on the ''25'' ('th of the month) because on the 25th they rested from their enemies. and also because of those days they (re)-dedicated the house (Temple) which their foes had defiled. Also some say that it is a commandment to increase slightly the festive meals on Hanukah. Another reason is because the work of (building) the Sanctuary (in the desert) was completed in these days. One should tell one's children the story of the miracles that were done for our fore-fathers in those days, (see Josephus) However, these meals are not considered as part of the commandment unless one says at the meal songs of praise. One should increase charity in these Hanukah days, for this can help mend any defects in our souls. This charity, should be given particularly to poor Torah scholars. (KSA 139:1)
1) 352 BCE until 70 CE
2) 139 BCE
3) The Menorah was made of gold and had seven branches.
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Baltimore, MD - May 7, 2024 - Rabbi Boruch Neuberger shares his voting preferences for the upcoming election.Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable version
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Baltimore, MD – May 2, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Rabbi Moshe Davids, z’l, husband of Mrs. Shula Davids, father of Chanie (Efraim) Silberberg, Yaakov Davids, Yosef Davids, Leib (Fran) Davids, Itta (Mendy) Weinfeld, and Chaim (Batya) Davids and brother of Lucille Hamet.
The levayah was held Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:00AM at Levinson’s. Click here to watch video
Shiva will be observed at Clubhouse Condominiums 6711 Park Heights Avenue #309, Baltimore, MD, 21215The family respectfully requests no visitors before 10:00 am, between 12:30-2:30 pm, between 5:30-7:30 pm, and after 10:00 pm.Thursday: Shacharis 7:00am (Rosh Chodesh)
Wed: Mincha/Maariv 7:50pmThe Davids Family requests any cont...
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Baltimore, MD – May 6, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Matthew Rosenblatt, z’l, husband of Tova Rosenblatt and father of Andrew Rosenblatt, Edward Rosenblatt, and Shmuel Rosenblatt.
The levayah will take place tomorrow morning, May 7, at Levinson's at 9:00 AM.
The kevurah will be held at Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652. Shiva will be observed through Monday morning, May 13 at 6625 Chippewa Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21209
The family respectfully requests no visitors from 5:00PM-7:00PM or after 9:30PMMinyanim:Shacharis:Wed & Thurs: Rosh Chodesh 7:00AM Fri & Mon: 7:15AM Sun: 8:30AMMincha/Maariv: 7:50PM (Erev Shabbos Mincha 5:00PM)Maariv Motzaei Shabbos: 9:...
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits which alleged that the company failed to warn patients about possible cancer risks caused by the anti-heartburn medication Zantac.
The lawsuits were filed in state courts across the country, but the agreements don’t completely resolve Pfizer’s exposure to the claims linking Zantac and cancer, according to Bloomberg News.
Terms of the settlements were not disclosed.
The Post has sought comment from Pfizer.
Zantac was brought to market in 1983 by Glaxo Holdings, a company that is now part of the GlaxoSmithKline company.
By 1988, it was the world’s best selling drug as patients reported benefits for conditions such as heartburn, ulcers and acid reflux.
Glaxo’s patent for Zantac’s active in...
Near an Israeli-owned hotel in the heart of the Greek capital Athens, an anti-Israel mob rioted outside the "Brown" hotel in Athens.
The protests, which escalated into riots, saw demonstrators attempting to breach the hotel premises where a group of Israelis were reportedly staying.
The protests erupted at Omonia Square, with demonstrators chanting slogans against Israel and attempting to forcefully enter the hotel. Greek police swiftly intervened, deploying gas grenades to disperse the crowd and restore order to the area.
Footage from the scene captured the chaotic scenes as protesters dispersed amidst the sound of exploding grenades. Despite the unrest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there were no known Israeli casualties resulting from the incident.
The protest...
BaltimoreJewishLife.com (BJL) is proud to partner with STAR-K CERTIFICATION that realizes that there is no substitute for a person’s own Rav. In an effort to offer a possible solution, it has launched its Institute of Halachah as a public service. Over the years, the agency’s Kashrus Hotline has answered generic halachic questions from kosher consumers the world over, including inquiries regarding the kosher status of foods and certified Sabbath mode appliances. The formation of a separate official division within STAR-K testifies to the need for addressing these issues.
The Institute of Halachah is directed by HaRav Mordechai Frankel, under the guidance of HaRav Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K’s Rabbinic Administrator. It is an invaluable resource for a diverse array of rabbis to discuss general halachic matters, as well as gain access to source materials for shiurim and answers to congregants’ questions.
Shailos for regular or Kashrus shailos may emailed or discussed using this widget.
The days between Pesach and Shavuos have been compared to the period from אירוסין — 'betrothal' to נשואין — 'marriage'. We were selected as the bride of G-d on Pesach and stood beneath the Chuppah at Mount Sinai on Shavuos.
We count the forty-nine days of Sefirah to prepare ourselves anew as a worthy bride ready to assume her relationship with G-d and its associated responsibilities.
Coincidentally, by neither of these mitzvos — marriage and counting the Omer, do we recite a blessing of Shehecheyanu as we do when performing other mitzvos that come from time to time.
Rav Yosher Ber Soloveitchik, famed 'Rav' of Boston and Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchonon, suggests a fascinating idea to explain why when count...
A new House Republican bill would send any person charged and convicted for illegal activity on a college campus to Gaza for at least six months.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced the bill on Wednesday alongside Reps. Randy Weber, R-Texas, and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., in response to the ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations on college campuses across the country.
Several of those protests have turned violent, with clashes between police and activists, as well as hundreds of activists being arrested across multiple campuses.
While Ogles' bill text does not mention Israel or the anti-Israel groups, it specifically targets unlawful activity on college campuses after Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants invaded Israel in a surprise attack that killed over 1,000 people.
Thos...
Baltimore, MD – May 8, 2024 – 30 Nissan/1st Day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar - Birkas Ha'ilanos should ideally be recited by shkiah (sunset) today. Due to the “late Nissan” many fruit trees in our area are past the budding stage and a bracha may not be recited when seeing those trees. There are still some blossoms visible at 3211 Pinkney (on the tree to the left as you face the house) and a bracha may still be recited upon seeing those blossoms. The bracha may still be recited after today, if one can find a budding tree (i.e., in further north regions, for example, we have heard that Lakewood, NJ still has budding trees).
Jerusalem, Israel - May 8, 2024 - Today (Tuesday, 7 May 2024) Minister of defense Yoav Gallant visited an artillery battery that provides fire support to IDF troops operating in the Rafah area. Minister Gallant spoke with the forces and viewed their activities.Excerpts from the Minister’s remarks:"I toured [by] the Rafah area today and met the commanders and soldiers operating there. I want to remind everyone something crucial - the murderers [Hamas terrorists] who went to [the Israeli communities of] Sufa, to Holit, and also targeted Yated, Yevul, Neveh and other local communities, came from the Rafah area. We are targeting [the terrorists] who murdered our children.”"Yesterday, I directed the IDF to enter the Rafah area, take the crossing, and carry out its missions. Th...
Baltimore, MD - May 8, 2024 - There will be no Maryland Cycling Classic this year.
Race organizers say the collapse of the Key Bridge has strained existing resources and personnel, and the impact on Baltimore area traffic could add to travel difficulties for residents around the Labor Day holiday weekend when the race normally takes place.
The hope is to have the race back on track for 2025.
“This brief pause in 2024 will allow the event to return in 2025 with even more vigor and momentum,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of the Maryland Sports Commission and President of the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland. “The Maryland Cycling Classic is a premier cycling event on a gl...
Jerusalem, Israel - May 8. 2024 - Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant at the IDF’s Division 91 on the northern border: “I am determined to ensure the safe return of the residents of our northern communities to their homes, and to rebuild that which was destroyed. The task here is incomplete.”This morning (Wednesday, 8 May 2024) Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant held an operational situation assessment at the IDF’s Division 91 on the northern border, together with the Division’s commander, Lt.-Col. Shay Klaper and additional senior IDF officers.Minister Gallant discussed the adjustment of IDF activities in the face of Hezbollah’s aggression. He also raised the efforts to thwart Hezbollah terrorists and terror infrastructure on Lebanese territory.Later, Minist...
Following a competitive national search, Yeshiva University has appointed Rebecca Cypess, PhD, the new dean of Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women. An accomplished and visionary educational leader, Dr. Cypess is currently the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she is also founding co-chair of J-FAS (Rutgers Jewish Faculty, Administrators, and Staff), which combats antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus. Dr. Cypess will assume her new position on July 1, 2024.
Dr. Cypess succeeds long-time Dean Karen Bacon — legendary in her commitment to students — who will become the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Karen’s contributions to YU are so profound and meaningful that they c...
Severe weather is possible across Maryland in the coming days and could deliver strong storms, hail and damaging winds to parts of the state.
A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for most of the state including the Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and I-95 corridor through central Maryland, northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia, according to the National Weather Service.
The latest forecast from the NWS predicts the affected area could see isolated showers and a possible thunderstorm Wednesday with a greater chance for severe weather on Thursday.
On Wednesday, storms could be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail during the afternoon and evening hours, especially along and south of Interstate 66 and U.S. Highway 50.
Severe weather will...
The hospital has experienced a 25% surge in demand for virtual health services since October 7.
PETACH TIKVAH, Israel – Beilinson Hospital, one of Israel’s largest medical centers and part of the Clalit Health Services network – the country’s largest healthcare provider, has opened Beilinson NEXT, a virtual hospital offering a wide array of online medical services that can be accessed by those living all over the country. Beilinson NEXT’s services are available to anyone in Israel, irrespective of their healthcare service provider with a referral and a Form 17, without additional fees.
“The war has made us rethink how medical care is delivered to our patients and increasingly, there is a need for remote medical services,” said Beilins...
In a combined effort by the IDF and ISA, using info from the Israeli
Navy and ISA, an IAF aircraft took out Ahmed Ali, the leader of Hamas'
Naval Unit in Gaza City, yesterday. Ali had been overseeing projects for
Hamas' Naval Unit in Gaza for years.
During the recent conflict, Ali directed attacks on Israel and IDF
troops in Gaza. Last week, he escalated terrorist activities against IDF
forces in central Gaza.
An Israeli official told NBC News there is deep frustration in the Israeli government over the decision by the Biden Administration to halt an arms shipment destined for Israel.
The official added that tensions had already been running high after Israel felt the US allowed it to be blindsided by Hamas’ announcement earlier this week that it was accepting a version of a cease-fire proposal that was unknown to Israel beforehand.
A senior US administration official confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday that the US paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
At the same time, Axios reported that Israeli officials alleged that the Bide...
Baltimore, MD - May 8, 2024 - With the loss of the I-695 Key Bridge, traffic has significantly increased at the alternative Harbor Crossings of the I-95 Fort McHenry and I-895 Baltimore Harbor tunnels. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is committed to evaluating traffic patterns to ensure the most efficient flow while prioritizing motorist safety. As such starting the week of May 13, the MDTA will embark on a pilot effort to reduce the number of lanes open at the northbound I-895 Harbor Tunnel toll plaza.
Vehicles over 5T GVW - GVRW and drivers needing to access Childs Street (exit 9) should use the right lane.
We urge drivers to comply with posted speed limits and heed overhead lane signals at all tunnel and bridge facilities, which have minimal or nonex...
1. Good morning and Chodesh Tov. Today and tomorrow we celebrate the new month of Iyar. It is customary to say that the word Iyar is an abbreviation: alef for Ani - I am; double yud for HaShem; reish for Rofecha — your Healer. This month is considered the month of healing for both body and soul. Our commentators explain that the nation of Israel went out from Egyptian slavery in the month of Nissan and went through a process of healing and renewal during the following month of Iyar.2. The name Iyar was brought back from Babylonia where it meant “light.”3. There are several special days that illuminate this month, particularly during difficult times like these: The 18th of Iyar is Lag B’Omer, the day that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai — identifi...