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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For most people, Pesach is already a distant memory. The dishes have all been packed away. But those who participated in the outstanding pre-Pesach shiurim sponsored by Agra D’Pirka are no doubt still feeling the effects of the spiritually uplifting program even after Yom Tov is over.
Agra D’Pirka’s pre-Pesach shiurim were held in four locations – Flatbush, Queens, Baltimore, and Boca Raton. In all, close to 400 people participated in person, and many more were privileged to watch the shiurim on TorahAnytime.
HaRav Aharon Kahn at a recent legal holiday shiur
In Flatbush, Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of the O-U, discussed many relevant and timely issues about Pesach, including post-Pesach kashrus issues. Rav Aharon Kahn spoke about concepts related to Purim, P...
In an interview with the Guardian, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis says that since October 7th and the ensuing war in Gaza, the Jewish communities across Europe have been grappling with a wave of increased hate speech, vandalism, harassment, and threats.
Some Jews in Europe have even consulted local rabbis on halachic questions in an attempt to find out whether it is permitted to remove Jewish symbols out of concern for their safety.
"The statistics show an increase of hundreds of percent in antisemitism throughout Europe. Many Jews are trying to hide their Judaism. One of the most common questions to Rabbis since October 7th is whether it is possible to take the mezuzah off the door. This says a lot," said Rabbi Goldschmidt.
He added that,...
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Baltimore, MD – May 13, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Rand Feinstein , z’l, son of Rochelle Feinstein and brother of Louis Feinstein.
The family will sit shiva at The Imperial 3601 Clarks Lane #236, Baltimore, Maryland 21215, beginning Tuesday.
There will be no minyanim at the shiva home.
Shiva visiting:Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
2:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Family will get up from Shiva Sunday morning.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel - May 14, 2024 - Along with thousands of others from their brigade, my sons had been back home from their service in and around Gaza for about two months. And though the war is never far from anyone’s minds, many families’ lives were beginning to reclaim their familiar rhythms. Mothers, who had to also serve as fathers, could turn to their partners once again to assist in the day-to-day routines of their homes. Fathers, many of whom had been sleeping in their uniforms and boots, with their rifles at their sides, could breathe once again, and not jump at the sound of a broken twig or a creaky stair.
Couples could smile, and laugh, and embrace.
But, as we know, the job is not done. Victory over Hamas has not occurred. Not yet. The go...
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.
French authorities on Tuesday condemned a "hateful rallying cry against Jews" and opened a criminal investigation after red hand graffiti was painted onto a Holocaust memorial in Paris.
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The attack comes amid an unprecedented surge in antisemitic acts in the country with the largest Jewish and Muslim populations in western Europe.
"The Wall of the Righteous at the Shoah (Holocaust) Memorial was vandalized overnight," Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a statement, calling it an "unspeakable act".
Around 20 of the hand symbols were found beneath the wall at the memorial in central Paris honoring individuals who saved Jews from persecution during the Nazi occupation of France in the 1940s.
May 14 marks the anniversary of the first major round-up of French Jews unde...
President Isaac Herzog this morning, Tuesday, addressed the annual ceremony held at the President’s Residence on Israel’s Independence Day, recognizing 120 Outstanding Soldiers
This year’s event, taking place under the shadow of the ongoing conflict, included songs symbolizing hope and faith, in memory of the fallen, in honor of the bereaved families, and with the hope for the swift return of all the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza
Later, President Herzog will host a reception for ambassadors and members of the international diplomatic corps from around the world.
Text of the President’s address:
"Outstanding soldiers and their dear families, Minister of Defense, IDF Chief of Staff, citizens and residents of Israel. This emotional occasion is not ...
The board of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, a brand owned by Unilever, said that the pro-Palestinian protests at the college campuses and graduation ceremonies across the United States are "essential" to democracy.
Earlier in January, the company called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza amid the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) ground operation in the Strip.
“Lunch counter sit-ins, student-led protests against the Vietnam War and Apartheid South Africa, and now the campus protests in solidarity with Gaza, all are part of our rich history of free speech and non-violent protest that makes change and is essential to a strong democracy,” stated the independent board.
Back in 2021, Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop selling its ice cream in the West Bank and ...
On Israel’s 76th Independence Day, marked under the shadow of the ongoing conflict, US President Joe Biden sent his greetings to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, expressing his good wishes for the Israeli people.
In his letter, President Biden noted, "The United States is proud of our enduring relationship with Israel. As the first country to recognize Israel as an independent state in 1948, our bonds are underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities."
Biden stressed that the Israeli people have shown significant resilience and strength following Hamas’s attack on October 7th.
"As I - a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel in wartime - made clear after Hamas's attack, the United States�...
Jerusalem, Israel - May 14, 2024 - An attendant at the Kotel tunnels approached me when I last visited there and gifted me a book that he authored. “My name is Yisrael Rosenberg”, he introduced himself. “After working for many years in high-tech in the US, I made Aliyah, and today at my age I am proud to be an attendant at the Kotel".
The book is titled “Only Good Tidings — Consoling Prophecies from the Bible.” This special Jew went through the entire Tanach and combined all the optimistic passages into a single inspiring volume.
I started reading. There are passages that describe our return to the land of Israel: “The Lord your God will bring you back and be merciful toward you; and He will return and gather you from all the peoples where ...
The last Yom Ha’Atzma’ut feels like it was a decade ago. The past year has been a long and traumatic one for the State of Israel and for all of us. Those younger than fifty-five do not remember one as challenging for our people.
How should we approach Yom Ha’Atzma’ut this year? Should we celebrate under such circumstances? Should we dance while thousands mourn and heal from their wounds? Should we sing while over one hundred families wonder about the fate of their loved ones held hostage? Should we celebrate the founding of the state that suffered the October 7 massacre and is enduring the subsequent war?
Why We Should Celebrate
Though we need to be sensitive to those suffering, yes — we should still celebrate.
Despite experiencing hardships (and maybe e...
Baltimore, MD - May 13, 2024 - On Monday Unified Command used precision cutting to clear the wreckage on top of the Dali.
Following the controlled demolition, crews are working to survey the debris that surrounds the Dali. From there, they will be able to remove the remaining steel and work toward refloating the ship, ultimately removing it from the channel.
Officials with the Key Bridge Unified Command said the controlled demolition went as expected.
"That will allow us now, over the next 48-hours safely move the vessel Dali inside the Port, from the Federal Channel, and it will also allow us to take out the remaining wreckage, steel truss and concrete pavement at the bottom of the river, get that out of the way, so we can meet our commitment at the end of this month to fully ope...
Baltimore, MD – May 13, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yechiel Reischer & Chaviva Martin on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Sulky & Shira Reischer and grandparents Dr. Marcel & Pearl Reischer יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - May 13, 2024 - As you may already be aware, the JCC in Park Heights is about to undergo a major transformation as it becomes the home of The Associated’s new headquarters.
In addition to new staff offices and community meeting spaces, our J Sports & Wellness facilities will also be renovated and expanded. More details about these changes will be shared with you very soon, but first we want to provide you with updates on what to expect on your upcoming visits to the JCC.
Here’s what you can expect beginning Sunday, May 19
Temporary Entrance Starting Sunday, May 19, our main lobby entrance will be closed. All members and guests will enter through the glass atrium doors, to the left of our current entrance.
Directional signs w...
Divisions 99, 98, and 162 are engaged in intense combat in the north, center, and south of the Gaza Strip.
Alongside the fighting, the forces held memorial ceremonies for the commemoration and memory of the fallen of Israel's wars and victims of hostilities over the last day.
In the 401st Brigade, every soldier currently in the Gaza Strip received a kit containing a memorial candle, matches, a photo, and the name of one of the fallen, along with a memorial sticker.
"IDF forces embrace the bereaved families and continue to fight in their light and spirit," the IDF stated.
Baltimore, MD – May 13, 2024 - Faces of Orthodoxy is a social media initiative powered by the Orthodox Union. Launched in 2022, Faces of Orthodoxy puts a human face on Orthodox Jews by telling the day-in-the-life stories of diverse religious Jews through portrait photography, personal photos, and journal-style posts. Each season takes place in a different city in the United States. The account highlights everyday heroes of faith who share their journeys, struggles, and triumphs.
The mission of Faces of Orthodoxy is to expose the non-Jewish and non-Orthodox communities to the diversity within the Orthodox community while emphasizing the universal values we all share. The initiative also aims to inspire Orthodox Jews to be proud of who they are, what they do, and what they bel...
Baltimore, MD – May 13, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Aron & Rocheli Rosskamm on the birth of a daughter.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!