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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Our Story: In the year 2011 Rabbi David Frid was diagnosed with ALS, which causes complete deterioration of the muscles in the body. In the beginning, he heroically fought to function on his own, even after he was confined to a wheelchair. At present, the disease has progressed to the point where he is now fully paralyzed, on a breathing machine and although fully cognizant, can only communicate with his eyes. He needs 24-hour surveillance and special care to survive. The ongoing costs are mind boggling.The family cannot continue without your support!
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Waiting for Moshiach
At 2:25 on Erev Shabbos, the angels were crying. How do I know? Be...
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 23, 2022 - BJL wishes our entire readership and all Klal Yisrael a happy, healthy and sweet new year and thanks you for your continued support.
Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable copy
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Baltimore, MD – Sept. 19, 2022 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Edward Lebowitz, Z’L, father of Mark Lebowitz, Jonathan Lebowitz , Dr. Michael (Rachel) Lebowitz, Jeremy Lebowitz , Naomi Sipple, and Alyssa Parness
The graveside levayah will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 3:00 PM at Britton Road Cemetery, Rochester NY.
Shiva will be observed beginning Wednesday morning at 7504 Slade Baltimore, MD 21208. Ave (across from Suburban Orthodox).The family respectfully requests no visitors between 5:55 p.m. and 6:55 p.m.
Minyanim:
Selichos followed by Shacharis:
6:30a Wednesday-Friday
6:50a Sunday
Mincha/Maariv:
6:55p Wednesday & Thursday
3:00p Friday & Sunday (Erev Rosh Hasha...
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Baltimore, MD - September 20, 2022
With the approach of Rosh Hashana, when many of us will be enjoying fresh fruits and other traditional foodstuffs, STAR-K reminds you that some of these items need to be checked carefully prior to use.
Checking instructions for all Rosh Hashana Simanim appear here and also as a downloadable PDF below. For your convenience, we are also including links to the 5783 Yoshon Quick Reference Guide, updated Baltimore Establishments Yoshon/Pas Yisroel chart, Insect Checking chart and What Do Bugs Look Like chart.
ROSH HASHANA SIMANIM CHECKING INSTRUCTIONS
APPLES/BEETS/CARROTS/POMEGRANATES: No checking required.
DATES*: Open a few dates in each container and visually inspect. If no insects can be seen, the rest may be eaten witho...
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.
Facebook's parent company Meta is currently weighing whether it will lift its platform ban on former President Donald Trump, and says it's proceeding with "great caution" in its deliberations, an interview confirmed.
Nick Clegg, the current Meta president for global affairs, told Semafor on Thursday that he will ultimately be the one to decide, first talking to experts and weighing real-world effects before making a final decision.
"It's not a capricious decision. We will look at the signals related to real-world harm to make a decision whether at the two-year point — which is early January next year — whether Trump gets reinstated to the platform," Clegg stated.
"We'll talk to the experts; we'll talk to third parties; we wil...
Turkeys are selling for record high prices ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday as a resurgence of bird flu wipes out supplies across the U.S.
Avian influenza is devastating egg and turkey operations in the heartland of the country. If just one bird gets it, the entire flock is culled in order to stop the spread. Millions of hens and turkeys have been killed in recent weeks. As a result, prices for turkey hens are nearly 30% higher than a year ago and 80% above pre-pandemic costs. Just as concerning are inventories of whole turkeys, which are the lowest going into the U.S. winter holiday season since 2006. That means there will be little relief from inflation for Thanksgiving dinner.
“There’s nothing appearing on the horizon to suggest anything new is going to surface to help ea...
Reissuing a Rabbinic statement (Kol Korei) that was first published 15 years ago and that remains relevant today, Agudath Israel of America is calling upon the community to exercise care regarding the custom of kapporos before Yom Kippur. Given the size of the community, and the large volume of chickens that will be handled in the upcoming days, the practice of kapporos needs to be conducted in a manner that ensures that proper standards of kashrus, cleanliness, and humane treatment of animals, as defined by halacha, are met. This can be achieved by patronizing only those establishments that are under appropriate rabbinic supervision.
The Translation of the text is as follows:
To All Our Jewish Brethren, Hashem’s Blessings Upon You!
As the y’mei ho’rachamim ve&rsqu...
Hillary Clinton likened Donald Trump's rally in Ohio last weekend to Adolf Hitler courting Nazis, a comparison that drew a sharp rebuke from a spokesman for the former president.
"I remember as a young student, you know, trying to figure out, how people get basically brought in by Hitler. How did that happen? I'd watch newsreels and I'd see this guy standing up there ranting and raving, and people shouting and raising their arms. I thought, 'What's happened to these people?'" Clinton said at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin.
"You saw the rally in Ohio the other night, Trump is there ranting and raving for more than an hour, and you have these rows of young men with their arms raised. I thought, what is going on?"
Trump hosted a rally...
Jerusalem, Israel - Sept. 24, 2022 - Thousands attend Selichos on Erev Rosh Hashanah at the Kotel
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 23, 2022 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Ahron Leib and Reena Wealcatch on the birth of a son.
Mazel tov grandparents Chaim & Aviva Wealcatch and Tali and Michelle Strum and great-grandparents, William and Noemie Wealcatch, Arnold and Leila Abelow, Isaac and Zahava Koll, and George and Brenda Strum.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 24, 2022 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov Yehuda Ashurov (Brooklyn) & Michal Klotzman (Baltimore) on their engagement.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 23, 2022 - Dear Parents:
We live in times of great uncertainty. A world steeped in immoral values, where nations seek to destroy one another and financial markets are struggling with instability. Through all of this we seek some sanity, a ray of clarity for ourselves.
As one walks around the halls of our Cheder, hearing the precious voices of young innocent children, singing and davening to 'ה, repeating the heilege פסוקים of חומש after their רבי, or the older תלמידים engaged in the שקלא וטריא of the גמרא, there is no room for doubt. אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים.
The תורת אמת continues its journey of מסורה. At the end of the school day, when the תלמידים enter the doors of their homes to be gre...
A New Year Without Our Nasi Hagadol
Maran Sar Hatorah
As we look back on this past year, it is with heavy hearts that we acknowledge the passing of the revered and beloved Nasi of Shas Yiden – Maran Hagaon Hagadol, Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.
He was the central source of encouragement for the incredible growth and success of Shas Yiden. He took great interest in the avreichim geonim and spurred them on to even greater heights in limud Hatorah, and the Gedolei Torah joined him in this support.
Rav Chaim’s joy was to farher the Shas Yiden in detail, ‘firing’ questions from all over Shas, and then to be able to exclaim “Zei kennen Shas” (They KNOW Shas.)
He is sorely missed.
(Below this short recap and greeting is a copy of th...
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 13, 2022 – Seven Mile Market announces its Rosh Hashanah schedule including opening on Motzaei Shabbos Sept 24 from 9:00 – 11:30PM.
A Montgomery County Circuit judge on Friday ruled that elections officials could start counting mail-in votes before polls close on Election Day.
The decision stems from a lawsuit brought by the State Board of Elections, challenging a Maryland law that requires mail-in votes to be counted two days after an election.
Many blamed the law for delayed Primary election results back in July.
Officials had told the judge they would not reveal any early results until polls closed on Election Day, but that it would allow them to be caught up and avoid a backlog of votes.
The judge agreed and said counting could begin as soon as October 1, pending an appeal.
This past General Assembly state lawmakers proposed a bill that would have changed the law, but it was vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan, who...