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 - Sept. 24, 2023 - Baltimore Shomrim continues to be very engaged in community public safety. Over the last two days there have been vehicle fires in the vicinity of the 3600-3700 blocks of Labyrinth Road. Additionally just a few weeks ago there were dumpster/garbage can fires in that general area as well. While there is no resolution at this point, Councilman Yitzy Schliefer was instrumental in escalating this troubling situation to have BCFD fire investigators take a close look at the circumstances surrounding these fires. Investigators have a potential lead on a suspect, however the matter continues under investigation and we will update the community as new information becomes available. Should you have any relevant information or camera footage regardin...
In crossing the Suez Canal, the 421st brigade changed not just the course of the war, but possibly even the face of the Middle East
It was a turning point which changed not only Israel, but the Middle East as well. Those who lived through it, like the men of the 421st Armored Brigade, have gone on to raise beautiful families and have successful careers, in Israel and around the world. But they will forever share an unbreakable bond forged in that bloody October of 1973.
It began with one of the most traumatic events in Israel’s history – a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria on the afternoon of October 6, 1973 – The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
For Amnon Amikam, who fought as a company commander in the war, the memories, even a...
Early Sunday morning, officers at the Beit Shemesh police station received a report on a suspicious Arab man in a Charedi neighborhood selling boxes of roosters and chickens.
The police officers located the suspect and began to investigate the circumstances surrounding his presence in the city. A quick check revealed that he was an illegal Palestinian infiltrator, a 20-year-old Palestinian resident of the Nablus region, and he was handed over for questioning.
Police investigators were surprised to discover his in-depth knowledge of Jewish law – as they discovered that he had come to sell roosters and chickens in the Beit Shemesh neighborhood ahead of Yom Kippur when it is customary to carry out the "Kaparot" ritual.
According to the ancient Jewish tradition, a rooster is swung aro...
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.
Baltimore, MD - Sept 24, 2023 – 11:10 AM – A tree has fallen on Old Post Road between Stevenson & Long Meadow, blocking the road.
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 24, 2023 - Clorox, a key supplier of disinfecting wipes, faces operational disruptions due to a recent cyberattack, leading to potential shortages in Maryland as flu season approaches, according to Pikesville Patch. The attack forced the company to switch to manual order processing, slowing down operations. While Clorox is working towards restoring its IT infrastructure and resuming normal operations, the timeline for complete recovery remains uncertain. This comes at an inopportune time with the onset of flu season, potentially impacting the availability of disinfecting products in Maryland and possibly other regions.
Baltimore, MD - Sept. 24, 2023 - On Sunday, remnants of former Tropical Storm Ophelia will bring an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Baltimore region, reports Pikesville Patch. The rain is expected to cease mainly before 11 a.m., with a high near 69°F. Winds will shift from east to southwest in the afternoon.
Moving into Sunday night, there's a 30% chance of rain before 8 p.m., followed by a slight chance of showers afterward, under mostly cloudy skies with a low around 60°F.
Monday's weather will remain cloudy with a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m., a high near 69°F, and a north wind of 8 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation stands at 20%.
This marks the beginning of a more fall-like weather pattern for the week, with daily highs in the upper ...
Baltimore, MD - Sept 24, 2023 - 9:18 AM - Three lanes on Greenspring Ave alongside Sinai Hospital are blocked. Baltimore City Fire Department is on scene. Expect delays in the area.
Baltimore, MD – Sept. 23, 2023 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Daniel Hutman, Z’L, husband of Yehudis Hutman, and father of Rivka Hutman, Bracha (Moshe) Milevsky, Shaya Hutman, Freida Hutman, Mica Hutman
The levayah will be held today, Sunday, Sept. 24 graveside at Agudah cemetery at 10:30 am, 6300 Hamilton Avenue, Rosedale, MD, 21237.
Shiva will be observed at 6702 Maurleen Rd.Visitors welcome after 1:30 PMMincha: 3:00 PMShiva concludes before Yom Kippur.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Russia is shifting its focus from 'energy facilities towards law enforcement institutions' according to Ukrainian cyber defense chief, amid war crime probes
The Ukrainian military intelligence head claimed on Saturday to have killed Russian generals in a missile attack on Moscow's Navy HQ in Crimea, while Ukraine's cyber defense chief warned of Russia’s attempts to hack into war crime investigations conducted by Kyiv, during an interview with Reuters.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said a missile struck on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Crimea killed "at least nine people," including generals, while speaking to Voice of America.
The Russian-installed regional governor Mikhail Razvozhayev had al...
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem commented on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the opening of the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
Qassem said, “Netanyahu practiced a state of unprecedented bullying against our Palestinian people in his speech, as a result of the normalization agreements that were concluded, or those that are underway to be concluded.”
“Netanyahu’s mention of the positive effects of normalization confirms that this path only achieves the interests of the occupation, and constitutes a real threat to the Palestinian cause," he added.
Hamas called for a boycott of the Israeli "occupation" during this period of increasing normalization between Israel and Arab states.
"Hamas movement has called on Arab and Muslim ...
Israel is on the brink of joining the United States' Visa Waiver Program, after an unofficial communication from the US has confirmed that Israel satisfies all the prerequisites for inclusion.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to endorse Israel's candidacy for the program on September 27. Then, the US should formally announce Israel's participation the next day.
Last week, it was announced that Israel is indeed progressing on the path towards joining program, and it can be said that the country is now in the final stretch. However, the final stage for the cancellation of entry visas for Israeli citizens is also divided into two phases. The first stage is entry into the program, while the second and final stage is an actual exemption and the commen...
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan spoke on Saturday at the UN General Assembly.
In his speech, the Saudi Foreign Minister reiterated the kingdom’s stance that a Palestinian state is part of the solution in the Middle East, and did not mention Israel.
"The stability of the region rests on a just and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian cause, and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," said Prince Faisal.
He added that his country “rejects and condemns all the unilateral steps that constitute a blatant violation of international laws and which contribute to the collapse of regional and international peace efforts and are hindering the path of diplomatic solutions.”
According to reports in I...
Mortgage rates jumped Monday, following a rise in bond yields driven by investors’ concerns that high interest rates and inflation will linger longer than expected.
The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage hit 7.48%, the highest level since November 2000, according to Mortgage News Daily. It has risen 29 basis points in just the past week.
“Investors just aren’t seeing the kind of deterioration in economic data that they expected,” said Matthew Graham, chief operating officer of Mortgage News Daily.
He noted that the Federal Reserve wants to see the same deterioration before considering a policy shift, and that shift would likely favor short-term rates first.
“The net effect is that longer-term rates like 10-year Treasury ...
Rite Aid is negotiating with creditors over the terms of a bankruptcy plan that would include liquidating a substantial portion of its more than 2,100 drugstores, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the talks.
The company has proposed to close roughly 400 to 500 stores in bankruptcy, and either sell or let creditors take over its remaining operations, according to the report.
Given the conversations remain ongoing, no decisions have been made at this time, Rite Aid said.
The company operates more than 2,330 stores in 17 U.S. states, although it is much smaller than rivals such as Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O) and CVS Health (CVS.N).
Put differently, true mesirus nefesh is not self-reduction; it is self-expansion, an opportunity to push oneself beyond the limits one assumes for oneself.
Is self-sacrifice a virtue?
Our instinctive answer to that question is, “But of course. It must be!” When we consider our overwhelming duties — the lion’s share of our time, money, and emotion that we pour into our Torah-driven lives and into building our faithful families — we are left with the question: What could the motivation be other than self-sacrifice?
Isn’t “mesirus nefesh” the defining character of Yiddishkeit? Isn’t this all the more so in the hubbub of our supercharged, hyper-stimulated life in the 21st century?
Think about your life. After a full ...