Baltimore, MD – Sept. 8, 2024 -  BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yosef Lebovits (Baltimore) & Hadassa Alt (Lakewood) on their engagement. Mazel Tov to Aron & Chana  Shira Lebovits and Dovid & Chayla Alt and grandparent Benno & Noemie Lebovits   יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!  
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Speed Dating Event For Working/Learning SinglesSeptember 15th, 2024 - 3:00 - 6:30 PMAges 19 - 25 Location:Shomrei Emunah6221 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, MD To RSVP: Men: Click here Women: click here It’s not too late to catch the early bird rateRegister by September 8th: $18After September 8th: $36 Zelle: ohrsimchatreasurer@gmail.com For more information: baltimoreshift@gmail.com
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 1, 2024  - As the month of Elul and the Yomim Noraim quickly approach, now is the perfect time to reevaluate. With internet devices and their distractions being ever-present in our lives, what better way to enhance our spiritual lives and reconnect with what’s important than to make a Kabolah, a pledge to limit our online interactions? Small, measurable, and attainable goals can make a significant impact. Consider committing to one or more of the following through Yom Kippur: Strengthening your filter settings Removing an app you frequently use Turning off your phone during dinner Putting your phone aside during in-person interactions Designating a specific room in your home for online activities Leaving your...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 7, 2024  - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life  (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Barbara Hamby, a’h, mother of Eliezer (Arleen) Hamby. The Levaya will be graveside tomorrow, Sunday, September 8th, 2024, at the Agudath Israel Cemetery 6347 Hamilton Ave., Rosedale, MD 21237 at approximately 4 pm. Shiva will be observed at 6226 Blackstone Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21209, starting Sunday after the Kevurah thru Friday afternoon at 5:30PM.Visiting 7am-1pm and 4-9 pmShacharis 7:00 amMincha-Maariv 7:10 pmMincha Erev Shabbos: 5:00PM Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 8, 2024  - There are times of small steps and times of giant leaps. With the opening of Elul Zman 5784, Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Hatorah of Baltimore took a giant leap forward. With enrollment jumping to 59 Bochurim, coupled with 17 Kollel Yungerleit and the Hanhalas Hayeshiva, the sounds of learning coming from the Bais Medrash is immense!  Under the guidance of the Roshei Hayeshiva Rabbi Dovid Hoffman and Rabbi Moshe Aharon Rosenbaum, shlita, Ohr Hatorah has become a magnet for Bochurim looking for a Bais Medrash where they can shteig and acquire a Rebbe. With four shiurim and an opportunity to learn with Kollel Yungerleit, every Talmid can truly reach new heights.
הספד ודברי הערכה על הגאון רבי אברהם אוזבנד זצ"ל שנאמרו בשער בת רבים בלייקווד בין הלוויה לקבורה מוצש"ק שופטים אור לה' אלול ה'תשפ"ד A special tribute and a unique hesped on Hagaon Reb Avremel Ausband, zt"l, said in Lakewood on Motzei Shabbos Shoftim 5 Elul 5784
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Baltimore, Md - Sept. 8, 2024: Dear Friends,This Thursday, 9/12, use your voice and be present at the first of four sentencings, in the murder of Efraim Gordon, Z'L, HYD.In addition to your presence, you can use your voice by submitting a victim impact statement (to efraimchai@gmail.com), stating how this heinous crime has impacted your life. They will be submitted to the Judge. We look forward to seeing you all there, to stand for justice and safer streets.Information:Thursday, September 12th9:30 AMCourtroom 228Cummings Courthouse- 111 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202*Parking validation is available upon request. *Rides may be available
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 8, 2024  - Due to the recent rise in crime and home break-ins, Baltimore Shomrim is increasing patrols and resources across the community.We urge everyone to report any suspicious activity, no matter how minor it may seem, by calling 911 and Shomrim at 410-358-9999
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 8, 2024 – 12:35PM –  A major accident on the inner loop of I-695 North at Exit 19 (Owings Mills Expressway) is causing significant traffic backups for miles.
Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 8, 2024  - With Rosh Chodesh Elul, Sefardim begin saying a month of daily selihos. This year at the Kotel large gatherings are planned, many more organized nights than in past years. The first two nights have seen thousands arrive and fill the Kotel Plaza for the middle of the night selihos. On Thursday night, before going to the Kotel for selihos, Kesher Yehudi held a pre-selichot program for families of hostages at the Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel.  Previously, one event by Kesher Yehudi, brought secular and religious Israelis to the David Citadel Hotel for an “authentic Shabbat experience.” The Shabbaton included speakers discussing topics ranging from healing to the need for unity in Israel to spirituality.  D...
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Rabbi Zvi Teichman on Parshas Shoftim: What On Earth Are You Doing?

If a corpse will be found באדמה — on the land that G-d your Lord, gives you to possess it, נופל בשדה — fallen in the field, ולא נודע — it was not known who smote him. (דברים כא א)


The Torah goes on to detail the laws of the עגלה ערופה — the axed heifer that is brought by the city that is determined by the elders and judges to be in closest proximity to the corpse.


The crux of this ritual is to display the responsibility of the community for a stranger's death. They must declare they were not culpable for the death, having not ignored any guest in the town, providing them with food and escort. By taking the heifer — too young to propagate, to a harsh valley — too hard to work and produce fruit, and axing the back of its neck, they display their sorrow over the death of a stranger who will also not merit to ever produce good deeds again.


The earlier description of this tragic discovery seems to echo the first murder in the history of mankind.


There is a common reference to the victim and the אדמה — ground.


In our story it refers to the corpse being found באדמה — on the ground.


When G-d confronts Kayin after he kills his brother Hevel, G-d inquires, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from האדמה — the ground."


There are six total mentions of the אדמה — ground, in the episode of Kayin and Hevel.


The unknown corpse is depicted as נופל — having fallen.


Prior to Kayin's heinous act, Kayin initiates a sacrifice to G-d only to discover it being rejected, in contrast to his brother Kayin who follows his brother's lead and presents an offering which is immediately accepted.


Kayin's bewildered and annoyed response is reported as ויפלו פניו — and his countenance fell.


Finally in a departure from utilizing the word אדמה — ground, to denote the earth, when describing the unidentified corpse having 'fallen' dead, it mentions it was בשדהin the field.  


Kayin as well, prior to killing his brother the Torah details that Kayin spoke to Hevel בשדהin the field.


After Kayin spills the blood of his brother the Torah states how 'the voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground'. The Midrash indicates that at first the blood remained unabsorbed by the earth and only later did the earth 'opened wide its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.'


The earth instinctively rejects the notion of murder, and it resists accepting its reality. It is a shock to the earth that man was formed from to absorb the notion of quashing life.


Perhaps regarding the axed-heifer and the unknown victim, the Torah directed us to 'shake the earth' with our reaction to murder by making a powerful public display with the all the elders and judges, coming out en masse to 'shake the earth' with their declaration to beg for atonement for this tragedy.  


When Kayin is crestfallen, it indicates he being surprised by the unexpected rejection.


The 'fallen corpse' in our story also connotes an unanticipated attack.


Perhaps the intimation here is to note that often our reactions are the product of frustrated anger that lashes out quickly blinding otherwise thoughtfulness in our choices.


Kayin spoke with his brother Hevel. And it happened when they were in the field, that Kayin rose up against his brother Hevel and killed him.


The verse never reveals what Kayin said. Likely he may have wanted to talk it out, but when emotions are pent up, one acts reflexively, often preventing one's better instincts to try and discuss the issues and quell the need to react.


In that same vein, our unidentified corpse 'fell', because of a quick drawn response that was fueled by angry desperation that could have otherwise easily been quashed.


The notion of both murders having transpired in 'a field', away from peering eyes, might be intended to apprise us of the danger in allowing ourselves to be in venues that naturally lend to the lowering of our guard, making us more susceptible to lax and mindless reactions catalyzed solely by raw emotion.  


Lastly there is an interesting parallel between the two episodes.


By the unidentified corpse we simply do not know who was killed.


By Kayin we clearly do, yet in Kayin's first response to G-d's query as to where is Hevel, Kayin feigns knowledge of his whereabouts by famously exclaiming, 'am I my brother's keeper?'


The Midrash explains that Kayin wasn't pretending he didn't know but rather he was pointing a finger towards G-d, intimating that the Master of the world could have intervened to stifle Kayin's reaction.


Rebbi Shimon Ben Yochai interprets G-d's stating 'The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground", as G-d affirming that Hevel was talking to G-d specifically reflecting this very same 'accusation', 'why did 'You' not interfere and stop him?'


Of course, the response is that although G-d accepts responsibility, but for man to maintain free-will, G-d will not stifle man's choices. But it is incumbent upon us to fulfill that role by reacting with the understanding that through our healthy choices we can create the environment that will restore mindfulness, calm, and understanding that will restore the world towards healthy and inspired choices only.


 (מבוסס על מאמר של הרב אלי קלינג  בקובץ קול מהיכל ו)


באהבה,


צבי יהודה טייכמאן







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Baltimore, MD – Sept. 8, 2024 – Earlier this morning, shortly before the incident on Hatton Road, an attempted break-in occurred at a residence on Midfield Road. The suspect removed an entire window from the home’s ground floor and pressed the RING doorbell, but was startled by a neighbor outside and fled the scene. Police arrived promptly and initiated a search for the individual.
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 8, 2024 - 10:24 AM - A minor motor vehicle accident has occurred on Greenspring Avenue between Old Court Road and the I-695 entrance. The left lane is currently blocked.
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 7, 2024 – In a frightening early morning break-in on the 3200 block of Hatton Road, an intruder caused significant damage and theft. Around 2:00 a.m., residents were startled by a loud noise resembling an explosion. The suspect, wearing a ski mask, threw a gas tank from the homeowner’s grill through the home's glass sliding doors. After the first throw didn’t completely shatter the door, the intruder threw the tank again, successfully breaking in. Once inside, the suspect walked around the kitchen and eventually stole a purse before fleeing the scene. Police are actively investigating the incident.
Three men have been murdered in a shooting attack at the Allenby Crossing at the Israel-Jordan border on Sunday morning. Medical teams were summoned to the scene. Two helicopters have been dispatched to transport the wounded to hospitals, but they could not be resuscitated. Magen David Adom (MDA) stated, "After resuscitation efforts, MDA paramedics and EMTs, in cooperation with an IDF medical team, have pronounced the deaths of three men, approximately 50 years old, with gunshot wounds." MDA EMT Yotam Tzur, said, "This is a very severe incident. We found three men lying unconscious, with no pulse and not breathing, with gunshot wounds. Together with the IDF medical team, we performed resuscitation efforts, but unfortunately, we had to declare their deaths on scene." United Hatzalah EMT...
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Baltimore, MD - Sept. 5, 2024  - BJL has learned that this year’s participating schools have received funding for this year’s rebate and will begin processing the rebates to families next week.  Furthermore, the BTI committee behind this innovative program has finalized the arrangements with The Associated to create the central fund through which donations for future year rebates can be made.  The BTI committee has prepared a Q&A and a video explaining the BTI, which may be seen below.
Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel, one of which hit a building during the early hours of Sunday morning. A rocket collided with a building in Kiryat Shmona, and another crashed into a sidewalk, while others were either intercepted or fell in open areas, Israeli media reported. The reports added that there were no casualties or people wounded. However, there was significant damage to the building that was hit and also a parked car.  At approximately 1 a.m., the first round of sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona, Kfar Giladi, Misgav Am, Margaliot, and Manara. The second round went off at 2:30 am in the same areas.  A third barrage occurred at around 5:30 a.m. Hezbollah takes responsibility Following the launch, Hezbollah released a statement o...
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Noted author and legal expert Alan Dershowitz has formally departed the Democratic party over anti-Istael sentiment at the DNC. He explained the decision in an interview on Talkline with Zev Brenner: "It was the most anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, anti-Zionist convention I've experienced," he said. "I was disgusted at the Democratic National Convention. Absolutely disgusted." Dershowitz specifically criticized US Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, all of whom he criticized as "anti-Israel." He also criticized Rev. Al Sharpton, who in the past has been accused of antisemitism. Along with the objections to the speakers, he denounced the convention's tolerance of anti-Israel protesters on the streets outside. "That's not my party," Dersho...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 7, 2024 - We recently reported on the commencement of renovations at Shearith Israel Congregation (HaRav Yaakov Hopfer). The renovations, featuring brand new tables, chairs, and freshly installed carpeting, are now mostly complete, and thanks to B. Ansbacher Photography, we are excited to give you an "inside" look.
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A Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested on Sept. 4 in Canada in connection with a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, the US Department of Justice reported Friday. Khan was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). “The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7th of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Thanks to the investigative work of the FBI, and the quick action of our Canadian law enforcement partne...
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