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.
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Tzom Gedaliah (Nidche): Sunday, Oct. 6 Baltimore: Fast begins: 5:56AM [some begin at 5:48AM] Fast Ends: 7:31PM
-Alos: 5:56
-Mesheyakir: 6:33AM
- Neitz: 7:08:11
- Sof Zman Krias Shema: 9:25/10:01AM - Chatzos: 12:54PM
- Mincha Gedolah: 1:25PM - Plag Hamincha: 5:29PM
- Shkiah: 6:40:36
- Tzais and fast ends: 7:31PMHistorical Background
After the Babylonians destroyed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and exiled many Jews in 3338 (423 BCE), they appointed Gedaliah ben Achikam as governor of the remaining Jews in the Holy Land. Jews who had taken refuge in the surrounding lands of Ammon, Moab and Edom heard of his appointment and returned to Judea to join his group—the last remnant of the once-mighty Judea. Under his wise and pious leadership...
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Rochel Frid is doing all she can to save her husband’s life! Please support our annual campaign to help save Rav Dovid Frid, father with ALS.
Wishing you a Safe, Happy & Healthy Shana Tova!
Blessings from Harav Gamliel Rabinowitz Shlita to all those who give generously.
Click here to donate now
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 22, 2024 - As always, Shabsi's Judaica looks forward to assisting you with all your Yom Tov needs.
Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable version of Shabsi's Judaica Yom Tov season schedule!
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 27, 2024 - The Board of Directors and Ladies Auxiliary of O’Fishel’s Mitzvah Motivators is proud to announce the reinstatement, rejuvenation, re-establishment, revival and bringing back of the Tehillim in Tishrei program, which was on a brief hiatus since about 18 years ago! Join us in davening for the Cholim, Chayalim, Chatufim and Acheinu Kol Bais Yisrael in harm's way. Say a Perek of Tehillim a day and get great prizes, including a souvenir Mitzvah Motivators emblazoned hardcovered Artscroll Tefilla L'Moshe Tehillim, personalized with your name!Program begins Rosh Hashana.Forms can be picked up from all finer Shuls,Mitzvah Motivators World Headquarters - 7000 Rockland Hills Drive,2601 Smith Ave, 6313 Winner Ave, 2714 Bartol, and To...
Shots were fired at the Be'er Sheva Central Bus Station Sunday afternoon.
Magen David Adom reported that a woman was murdered and seven people were wounded in the shooting. Four victims are in moderate condition, and three are in light condition.
The shooter was neutralized. Eyewitnesses stated that the shooter wore a bulletproof vest. According to reports from the scene, the shooting took place in two locations, including the local McDonalds and a nearby street.
Police spokesman Aryeh Doron told Channel 12 News, "We are continuing to conduct searches for accomplices, we are asking everyone who is in the area not to go there."
On Tuesday evening, two gunmen from Hebron opened fire at a light rail station in Jaffa, killing seven people and wounding 16.
Th...
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 President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday urged a halt to deliveries of arms to Israel that can be used in its war against Hamas in Gaza, drawing a furious reaction from Jerusalem.
“I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” Macron told broadcaster France Inter.
“France is not delivering any,” he added during the interview recorded early this week.
Macron reiterated his concern over the conflict in Gaza that is continuing despite repeated calls for a ceasefire.
“I think we are not being heard,” he said. “I think it is a mistake, including for the security of Israel,” he said, adding that the conflict was leading to “hatred.”
Macron also sai...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 5, 2024 - Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital has been recognized on Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025 list. This is the third year in a row that Levindale has received this prestigious recognition.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of the nation’s best nursing homes,” says Sharon Hendricks, chief administrative officer at Levindale. “Earning this distinction for the third year in a row is a testament to the care provided by our teams and our commitment to providing quality care and enriching experiences for our residents at Levindale.”
The America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025 ranking lists the nation’s leading nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest number of facilitie...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 5, 2024 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yonatan and Hadassah Grinberg on the birth of a son on Erev Rosh Hashanah.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
As the Israeli people, and Jewish communities around the world mark the year anniversary of the atrocities carried out by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, and while 101 hostages remain held in brutal captivity by terrorists in Gaza, President Isaac Herzog has sent a moving message to Jewish communities and friends of Israel taking part in vigils, memorials, and ceremonies all over world.In his message, the President stressed the resilience of the Israeli people, and the importance of standing united and strong against antisemitism across the globe.
Full Text:Dear sisters and brothers from all around the world- Shalom to all of you, from the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Today marks a full year since the earth shook, since the worst of human brutality and hatred ripped apart o...
In an operation coordinated by IDF and led by COGAT, with the US Embassy in Israel and other international actors, Fawzia Amin Sido, a 21-year-old woman of Yazidi origin, was freed this week from captivity and returned home to Iraq.
About a decade ago, when she was only 11 years old, ISIS terrorists trafficked her to a Hamas terrorist affiliated with ISIS in the Gaza Strip where she was held in captivity.
During Swords of Iron, the war against Hamas in Gaza, the terrorist who held her was killed, presumably during IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip, and she fled to a hideout within the Gaza Strip.
In a complex operation coordinated between Israel, the United States, and other international actors, she was recently rescued in a secret mission from the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Cross...
Jerusalem, Israel - Oct. 5, 2024 - An Israeli security source on Saturday confirmed to Sky News Arabic that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's successor, Hashem Safieddine, was eliminated in a Friday night strike.
According to Al Hadath, commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were eliminated together with Safieddine.
On Friday, Israel estimated that Safieddine was injured in the strike, since those who were with him in the underground area which was struck could not have escaped the site alive. In addition, it is estimated that alongside Safieddine, senior Hezbollah intelligence officials were also present at the site and were also injured.
Safieddine, 60, is a cousin of Nasrallah and last month was appointed his successor. Prior to his appo...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 5, 2024 - Baltimore City has announced the terms of their $80 million lawsuit with Walgreens.
Walgreens will pay $45 million by the end of this calendar year and the remainder by December 31, 2025.
The city will be using the entirety of the settlement for opioid remediation.
The remainder of the money received by the city will be managed in accordance with Mayor Scott's August 2024 executive order.
This settlement with Walgreens is one of six the city has in its ongoing lawsuit against opioid distributors.
This includes settlements with Allergen and CVS for $45 million each, Teva for $80 million and Cardinal Health for $152.5 million.
Just last month, the city settled with Johnson & Johnson. The details of the settlement weren’t disclosed.
Pikesville, MD - Oct. 5, 2024 - It seems like a community walk around a Pikesville hotel that people in the area call a “crime magnet” may have worked.
The Randallstown NAACP says they have reached an agreement with the owners of the Howard Johnson By Wyndham on Reisterstown Road to make the property safer.
“We’re really happy with it,” says Randallstown NAACP president, Ryan Coleman. “It’s a historic, historic agreement to really get the management here to compromise with us and it’s a big win for the Pikesville community and Baltimore County.”
The hotel, which is just north of the city-county line, has long been a source of human trafficking, prostitution and other criminal activity and they’ve had enough. Coleman says ...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 2, 2024 – Councilman Isaac ‘Yitzy’ Schleifer addresses the first of two roll calls for the high holiday deployments. Over 25 Police and Sheriffs are assigned to our community thanks to our Councilman’s efforts.
Councilman Isaac ‘Yitzy’ Schleifer addresses the first of two roll calls for the high holiday deployments.
Charlotte, N.C. - Oct. 2, 2024 - Reports about a problem at Bank of America spiked around 12:45 pm ET on Downdetector, which collects data on outages.
Many customers complained they could not see their account balances. Some who could access their accounts were startled to see zero balances.
Bank of America did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Multiple CNN employees with Bank of America accounts could not log into their accounts online. A message displayed for one Bank of America customer said the current balance amount for one or multiple accounts “may be temporarily unavailable.”
“Five accounts show zero balance, over 20K,” one Bank of America customer on Downdetector wrote.
Another said he can’t log in but his wife can and h...
Israel's foreign minister declared UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres 'persona non grata' and was henceforth banning him from entering Israel, according to a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
The ban on entry, said FM Israel Katz, was due to Guterres's failure to "unequivocally condemn" Iran's massive missile attack on Israel.
"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," Katz wrote.
He added that Guterres is yet to denounce the October 7 massacre, which is approaching its one year anniversary, or condemn Hamas's use of sexual violence.
Katz also criticized the Guterres for not leading "any efforts to declare [Hamas] a ...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, September 13, ordered that the safe return of northern Israel's residents to their homes be added to the war's objectives. In the week that followed, dozens of Hezbollah terrorists were killed and thousands were maimed when their communication devices exploded. Israel did not claim responsibility for the explosions, but foreign media reported that the Mossad was behind them.
The following weekend, Hezbollah responded to the elimination of Radwan Force commander Ibrahim Aqil by expanding the range of fire and increasing rocket and UAV launches, targeting the lower Galilee, Haifa Bay, and Jezreel Valley areas. At the same time, the IDF increased its strikes on Hezbollah targets, striking buildings used to store long-range missiles. On M...