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.
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 8, 2023 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Ruth Goldstein a"h, mother of Dov Goldstein.
The levaya will be at Sol Levinsons tomorrow, Thursday February. 9, at 9:30 AM.
The kevura will take place in New York.
Shiva will be observed at 5911 Key Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21215 - Details to follow
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach.
Details to follow
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Baltimore, MD - Feb. 7, 2023 - EBT cards from many community members have been compromised and thousands of dollars have been drained from their accounts. This is unfortunately consistent with the same issue reported nationally.
While many security measures have been put in place over the years to combat credit card fraud in general, such as contactless payments and embedded microchips, unfortunately the EBT card does not have some of these protections.
EBT cards do not have a chip, nor do they have contactless pay, which makes it more susceptible to theft.
The best way to protect against EBT fraud is to change your PIN frequently.
If your card has been compromised, changing your PIN can make all the difference in stopping a thief from accessing your card and using all the available...
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Baltimore, MD – Feb. 7, 2023 - Seven Mile Market and Market Maven would like to thank Baltimore Jewish Life for keeping the community informed on pending legislation regarding plastic bags. Our advocacy in the process has resulted in a positive outcome for our community. We would like to thank all our customers and all those concerned people who participated in the legislative process by letting their voices be heard by our elected officials.
While we are happy that the concerns of small businesses have been addressed, we would like to encourage everyone to please continue reusing our bags as many times as possible and avoid littering by disposing of them properly.We want to thank Councilman Izzy Patoka who introduced the bill, fought to add an amendment exempting...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 8, 2023 – 4:03PM - A major accident has traffic on Route 70 near 695 backed up significantly.
Avoid the area.
Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 8, 2023 - When things were not looking good for Shayna Levine-Hefetz's son's health the family reached out to Rav Yitzchak Ginsburg for a bracha. A piece of advice the Rav gave was to sponsor classes in taharas hamishpacha from a Chassidic view.
The family sponsored a three-part series about a year and a half ago. "Baruch Hashem, since then, Moshe Tzvi has made significant progress," Shayna reports.
To follow up Shayna decided to sponsor the Tu Bishvat program for women at the Chabad of Baka. Brochos on the Tu Bishvat fruits of Eretz Yisrael and other Tu Bishvat symbols were led by Rebbitzen Nechama Dina Hendel with the merit for a full and speedy recovery of Rafael Moshe Tzvi Hirsh ben Shayna Chavah. Around 18 months ag...
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.
'We’re really clear on what has happened, but the answer to the question why MH17 was shot down still remains in Russia'
There are "strong indications" that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the supply of the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014, international investigators said Wednesday.
There was no suggestion, however, that the strongman leader ordered that the aircraft be shot down.
Investigators said they were halting their eight-year probe in view of Putin's immunity as head of state and insufficient volume of concrete evidence to prosecute him or other suspects. The announcement came months after a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia over complicity in the catastrop...
Maryland lawmakers are reacting to President Joe Biden's state of the union address on Tuesday night.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen said the president laid out the groundwork for the progress they've made.
"He shared how we’ll continue to build on that progress to grow more prosperity and more opportunity for all," Hollen said in a statement. "I am committed to working alongside him to continue to strengthen our democracy, protect the rights of Americans, create an economy that works for everyone, and build a more perfect union.”
Sen. Ben Cardin, with guest Gov. Wes Moore, was also in attendance at what was his 36th State of the Union address.
"It was historic both in celebrating the Biden-Harris administration's achievements and in shar...
Baltimore City is on the verge of paying out a $6 million settlement related to the police department's defunct Gun Trace Task Force.
The lawsuit stemmed from an incident dating back to April 2010, when detectives chased a car with two men, Umar Burley and Brent Matthews, wanted for an alleged drug violation.
While fleeing police Burley sped through a stop sign colliding with another car occupied by Elbert Davis Sr. and Phosa Cain.
The crash left Davis dead and Cain, who has since died from unrelated causes, seriously injured. In 2013 Davis' family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Burley and obtained a more than $1 million judgement, which was ultimately paid for by the City.
That came about when Burley and Matthews sued the police department in 2018, alleging they were...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 2023 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddishkeit and for HaShem with their children. Unfortunately, our schedules are hectic and many people don’t have the time to prepare themselves to utilize the Shabbos table to its fullest. Therefore, we at ACHIM created TableTalk as a pre-packaged talking points pamphlet which is attractive, fun and has something for everyone. Limited copies are distributed to many shuls on a weekly basis but they are snatched up very quickly. Get yours ASAP or click on the graphic below and print your own.What’s in it and what’s all the excitement about?TableTalk features:• Weekly halachic dilemma creating l...
The number of enforcement operations carried out against illegal Arab buildings in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem rose sharply under the new Netanyahu government this year.
According to data collected by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (OCHA), the number of illegal Arab structures in Jerusalem which were demolished from January 1st through February 7th of this year is more than double the number reported during the same period last year.
During that period, Israeli authorities demolished 42 buildings in eastern Jerusalem, evicting 53 squatters.
Last year, during the same 38-day period, just 18 structures were demolished.
From January 1st through February 7th, 2021 – under the previous Netanyahu government – just four buildings ...
An earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale was felt shortly before 5 pm in Israel Wednesday afternoon. This is the second such earthquake in Israel in less than 24 hours.
The Seismological Division of the Geological Survey of Israel said that the epicenter of the earthquake was 20 kilometers southeast of the city of Ariel.
Last night (Tuesday), at about 11:15 PM, an earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale was felt. Its epicenter was 15 kilometers southeast of Ariel, close to the location of the epicenter of Wednesday's earthquake.
Thus far, there are no reports of injuries or damages.
The earthquakes in Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday follow the devastating earthquake which hit Turkey and Syria overnight Sunday and which was also felt in Israel. That earthqua...
Mission Commander Yossi Cohen reported: "United Hatzalah rescue teams are currently working in the city of Kahramanmaraş. Our team arrived at the site of a destroyed building. We joined the Israeli Home Front Command Search and Rescue units active in the area. We weren't allowed to split up our team due to security concerns. We began assisting in the rescue currently underway in one particular building. This was a residential building that was 9 stories high when it was standing. The building pancaked when it collapsed during the earthquake.""As other rescue units left that building after assessing that there were no casualties, we were alerted by locals that there were still people trapped underneath who were suspected to be alive. United Hatzalah team members entered th...
A rare gold bead from the end of the Roman era was uncovered within the Israel Antiquities Authority excavation of the Pilgrimage Road in the City of David, part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The gold bead, which was discovered by a volunteer, is handmade in a delicate and complicated process.
"Whoever wore it was certainly affluent", researchers said.
A unique bead made from pure gold and dated to at least 1,600 years ago was uncovered at the sifting project at the Archaeological Experience in the Emek Tzurim National Park. The bead was found in dirt removed from a grandiose Roman structure discovered in the Pilgrimage Road Excavation. It was created using a unique technique that required delicate workmanship to affix tens of tiny balls together in the shape of a ring in order...
With the hope of finding survivors fading, stretched rescue teams in Turkey and Syria searched Wednesday for signs of life in the rubble of thousands of buildings toppled by a catastrophic earthquake. The confirmed death toll from the world’s deadliest quake in more than a decade passed 11,000.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan toured a “tent city” in hard-hit Kahramanmaras where people forced from their homes were living. Amid calls for his government to send more help to the disaster zone, Erdogan conceded initial shortfalls in the response to Monday’s 7.8 magnitude quake but vowed no one would “be left in the streets.”
Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel on the gro...
One day after Baltimore city council members called for an investigative hearing on proposed changes to the conduit system, Mayor Brandon Scott announced that the deal is done.
"We know it's a good deal for the city. We're very confident of that," said Mayor Scott.
The agreement gives BGE broad control over the city's underground conduit system, which houses 700 miles of utility cables.
In November, voters passed a charter amendment that bars the city from selling the system, which, Mayor Scott insists, is not happening.
"We're not selling the conduit," insisted Mayor Scott after announcing the agreement with BGE.
Former Mayor Jack Young, however, accuses the Mayor of violating the will of voters and agreeing on a bad deal for city taxpayers.
"The math doesn'...
A Baltimore County woman accused of plotting with a neo-Nazi from Florida to attack Baltimore's power grid also has a lengthy criminal history in Maryland.
Sarah Beth Clendaniel, of Catonsville, and alleged co-conspirator Brandon Clint Russell, of Orlando, Florida, both remain in federal custody Tuesday after their arrests by the FBI.
Clendaniel, 34, has a history of criminal and civil cases in Cecil County dating back to at least 2005.
As a mother, she was sued for custody and child support. Online court records include her handwritten letters to judges that detail a history of "substance abuse" leading to "criminal activities."
Clendaniel has been convicted of theft, assault and robbery. She pleaded guilty in 2016 to a case in which police said she was machete when she...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 7, 2023 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Chani and Binyomin Vilner on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Ariel Sadwin and Rabbi & Mrs. Menachem Vilner and great grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Manny Sadwin and Rabbi & Mrs. Ben Zion Malin
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
A Tuesday morning fire forced a temporary evacuation of the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Circuit Courthouse in downtown Baltimore.
According to Sheriff Sam Cogen, someone dropped a lit cigarette in a nearby street grate causing some smoke to enter the building.
Fire crews responded to fan out the courthouse leaving Courthouse West at 100 N. Calvert Street temporarily closed.
Cogen said scheduled hearings will still go on. To check the current docket click here.