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.
The 70-year-old prime minister has called two elections this year, has twice been given the chance by the president to put together a ruling coalition, and has twice failed.
President Reuven Rivlin will on Wednesday turn to Netanyahu’s centrist rival Benny Gantz, leaving Netanyahu even more vulnerable in his fight for political survival.
But although he has failed, Gantz - a former general and political novice - also has no clear path to success.
Here are some of the possible scenarios, including even a third parliamentary election in less than a year, after two inconclusive elections in April and September.
WHY IS ISRAELI POLITICS IN DEADLOCK?
Shortly after the Sept. 17 election ended in stalemate, Rivlin gave Netanyahu 28 days to put together a governing coalition.
During tha...
The United States told Turkey on Tuesday night that the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from the “safe zone” Ankara demands in northern Syria was complete, the Turkish defense ministry said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
The statement added there was no need to initiate another operation outside the current area of operation at this stage.
US President Donald Trump commented on the announcement on Twitter and wrote, “Good news seems to be happening with respect to Turkey, Syria and the Middle East. Further reports to come later!”
Under a truce brokered by US Vice President Mike Pence, Turkey had agreed to a 5-day ceasefire in northern Syria, which expired on Tuesday.
The Kurds began leaving the Turkish-besieged town of Ras al-Ain in no...
Baltimore City Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young wants to rename a building after U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, who died Oct. 17, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Young said he is exploring the idea of renaming Courthouse East; however, the courthouse may be relocating. Due to this, Young said he might have to delay his decision, according to the Sun.
Young told the Sun Cummings deserves the honor as he was a living example of what a public servant is supposed to be.
Cummings passed away due to complications from longstanding health issues at the age of 68. The Maryland representative will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Thursday ahead of funeral services held on Friday.
WeWork, the beleaguered co-working startup, chose a rescue offer from investor SoftBank over a competing proposal from JPMorgan Chase, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The deal would pay co-founder Adam Neumann nearly $1.7 billion, ending most of this ties with the company, the Journal said, citing sources it didn't identify. The transaction is expected to value WeWork at about $8 billion, down from an earlier valuation of $47 billion.
WeWork, which was planning to begin public sales of its stock last month, was forced to pull the offering despite bankers at Goldman Sachs pitching valuations as high as $90 billion — after investors began studying its high debt levels, massive losses and how quickly it was burning through cash.
Many prospective stock-buyer...
The United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union passed one major hurdle Tuesday when Parliament lawmakers approved Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill but hit a roadblock moments later when a three-day timetable was voted down.
The House of Commons passed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill by a 30-point majority, with the ayes getting 329 votes, over 299 by the Noes, sending the bill on for further scrutiny and possible amendments. Then lawmakers quickly voted down Johnson’s a three-day timetable, attempting to fast-track the bill through, by a 14-point margin.
The vote likely made it impossible for Johnson to fulfill his vow to take Britain out of the EU by the Oct. 31 deadline.
After the second vote, opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Co...
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Parents, students and teachers in Baltimore County will have the chance to weigh in Tuesday night on the proposed school calendar for next year. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the school system's headquarters in Towson.
There are three options for the school board to choose from. One has classes starting before Labor Day, on Aug. 31, with the last day of classes on June 11. The other two have students starting after Labor Day, both on Sept. 8 but differing on the timing of spring break.
In 2016, Gov. Larry Hogan signed an executive order mandating that schools start their calendars after Labor Day. However, state lawmakers passed a bill this year to return that power to local school boards. Hogan vetoed the legislation, but lawmakers overrode that veto.
The board will make...
BALTIMORE (AP) — Federal officials say they're close to breaking a record for the number of guns they've seized this year at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement Tuesday that they've caught 26 guns at BWI's checkpoints. The number ties the record set in 2017.
The TSA says "it is highly likely" that new record will be set before 2019 ends.
Officials said the 26th gun caught this year was spotted Saturday. An Annapolis, Maryland, man had 9 mm handgun loaded with 15 bullets in his carry-on bag. He said he forgot he had it.
The TSA said the unidentified man was arrested on weapons charges.
The agency said that 4,239 firearms were discovered in carry on bags across the nati...
Under Armour's chairman and CEO Kevin Plank will step down as CEO in January of next year, Under Armour officials announced Tuesday.
Plank has worked as the chairman and CEO since he founded the company in 1996. Plank will be passing the reins to President and COO Patrik Frisk.
After stepping down, Plank will become the executive chairman and brand chief and will continue to lead Under Armour's board of directors while "focusing on product elevation, amplifying the brand story and stewarding the company's strong team culture," company officials said in a press release.
"Our multi-year transition approach has ensured purposeful leadership continuity. Patrik is the right person to serve as Under Armour's next CEO," Plank said in the release. "As my partner during the m...
Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young will declare his candidacy for mayor Saturday, his campaign confirmed.
Young took office in May with the resignation of Mayor Catherine Pugh. By then, Young had been in the mayor's office on an acting basis for a month while Pugh, who had been plagued by scandal, was on a medical leave of absence.
Young will make his announcement at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Ynot Lot, across the street from his new campaign headquarters at 1901 North Charles Street. The same offices served as the Baltimore City headquarters for Gov. Larry Hogan's re-election campaign.
Young will tell supporters he is the best person for the job and that he wants "to honor the public service of Congressman Elijah Cummings," campaign spokesman Leroy Graefe said.
Cummings,...
How many people prayed at the Western Wall in the last 30 days?
According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, more than 2 million came to the visit the Kotel during the last 30 days, which included the holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah.
The number, the foundation said, represents a significant rise over previous years.
What did people do at the Western Wall?
>Participate in Slichot, a prayer for forgiveness consisting of songs, laments, confessions and the blowing of the shofar.
>Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with personal prayers in honor of the historic pilgrimage holiday.
>Take part in the Priestly Blessing ceremony, Birkat Kohanim, which is recited during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. During the ceremon...
As the festival of Simchat Torah ended in Israel, the "Second Day Hakafot" celebrations began. Arutz Sheva attended numerous events and offered a glimpse into the festivities.
Click here to watch the dancing at Kfar Chabad, The Western Wall, The Tel Aviv Barby Club and The Ponevezh Yeshiva
Rabbi Nissim Karlitz Of Blessed Memory
Rabbi Shmaryahu Yosef Nissim Karlitz, a senior rabbi and major halakhic posek of the Litvish community in Israel, passed away Monday evening. He was 93.
Click here for pictures and video from the mass funeral.
Click here to learn about the Rabbi's teachings and leadership.
Former chief justice Shamgar laid to rest
Former chief justice of the Israeli Supreme Court Meir Shamgar passed away Friday at the...
A Channel 13 News poll conducted by Prof. Camille Fox released today indicates that even if new elections were held today, the draw between the blocs would not be resolved.
According to the survey's results, if elections were held today, the Blue and White list would receive 34 seats, the Likud would receive 33 seats, and the Joint Arab List would receive 13 seats.
Yisrael Beyteinu would receive 8 seats, Shas 7, and United Torah Judaism 7.
Jewish Home woulld receive 5 seats; Labor, 5; New Right, 4; and the "Democratic Union", 4 seats.
The survey shows that if elections were held today, the Right-haredi bloc would receive 56 seats, as would the Left-Arab bloc.
The survey also asked: "Assuming a unity government is established, who should serve first as prime minister?"
...
This will be Netanyahu's first meeting with the party leaders since returning the mandate to form the new government to President Rivlin.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene the leaders of the right-wing bloc tomorrow, Wednesday.
This will be Netanyahu's first meeting with the party leaders since returning the mandate to form the new government to President Rivlin Monday night.
The meeting will be held at noon in the Prime Minister's Office. Faction heads of Shas, United Torah Judaism, New Right, and Jewish Home-National Union were invited.
Ministers Ze'ev Elkin and Yariv Levin, heads of the Likud party's coalition negotiations team, are also expected to attend.
MK Ayelet Shaked, a leader of New Right, emphasized this...
Carlos Monje, Twitter’s US director of public policy and philanthropy, wrote in response that “Twitter’s purpose is to serve the public conversation.”
ASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of Congressmen sent a letter on Tuesday to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, demanding the social media platform will ban Hezbollah and Hamas affiliated accounts from using the platform.Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Tom Reed (NY-23), Max Rose (NY-11), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), said that Twitter is “blatantly violating US law,” and demanded that Twitter remove these accounts by November 1.
The group first reached out to Twitter last month. Carlos Monje, Twitter’s US director of public policy and philanthropy, wrote in response that “Twit...
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz will receive the mandate to form a government from President Reuven Rivlin tomorrow night, the President's office announced Tuesday evening.
Director of the President's office Harel Tobi had conversations with all Knesset factions requesting their recommendation for a candidate to form the next government after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu returned the mandate to the president last night.
After receiving word that the parties' positions had not changed, President Rivlin decided to give the mandate to Gantz at 8 PM Wednesday night.
Under the Basic Law, Gantz will have 28 days to form the government, and he will not be able to request a further extension. If Gantz fails to form a coalition, the President will inform the Speaker of the ...
Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor unequivocally testified on Tuesday that President Trump pushed Ukraine to investigate both election interference and a company linked to Joe Biden's son -- and was willing to hold up military aid and a White House meeting to get a public announcement from the country that the probes were underway.
In his opening remarks to House lawmakers obtained by Fox News, Taylor voiced his apparent frustration that his personal policy preference for providing strong military support to Ukraine was being undercut at points by the Trump administration.
Among Taylor's colorful claims were that then-national security adviser John Bolton preemptively warned that a Trump phone call with Ukraine's...
THE FOLLOWING IS VIA YWN
Tens of thousands are attending the levaya of HaGaon HaRav Shmaryahu Yosef Nissim Karelitz ZT”L, which is now underway in Bnei Brak. The Gadol was 93 at the time of petira.
HaGaon HaRav Shmaryahu Yosef Nissim Karelitz, ZT”L, was born on 8 Av 5686 in Kosova, Belarus, to HaGaon HaRav Nachum Meir and Batya Karelitz, sister of the Chazon Ish ZT”L.
He moved to Eretz Yisrael with his parents in 5696 and he learned in Yeshivas Tiferes Tzion, with one of his rabbonim being HaGaon Rav Michal Yehuda Lefkowitz ZT”L. He continued his limud in Yeshivas Ponevezh.
He married Leah, daughter of Rav Tzvi Kupshitz of Jerusalem, great granddaughter of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Zonnenfeld ZT”L. in the 1950s, he was a Ram in Yeshivas Vishnitz in Bnei Brak. In ...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 20, 2019 - Here we are again, in the home stretch of what has been a wonderful Yom Tov season, an inspirational and emotional period where we have taken a break from everyday life and re-connected with Hakadosh Baruch Hu and those around us. As we stand poised to bid farewell to the Yomim Tovim, it is important to take a moment and remind ourselves what Simchas Torah is all about.
Sadly, a holiday that is meant to celebrate the Torah, for some it is a great excuse to drink excessively. While there is nothing wrong with having a drink, getting wasted is hardly in the spirit of Shabbos or Yom Tov, in fact it is quite irresponsible. Simchas Torah is about celebrating the ultimate gift given to klal yisroel, something that should spark true joy in our hearts and an opport...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 18, 2019 - On Wednesday evening, the first night of Chol Hamo’ed, the Baltimore community enjoyed a concert worth remembering!! The Menucha Sukkos concert has become an event that the community looks forward to every year. This year, expectations did not fall short as the concert once again broke records and rose to new heights!! Featuring renowned music stars Uri Davidi and Yoni Z, as well as Baltimore’s very own Zemer Orchestra led by Nossi Gross, the demand for tickets just couldn’t be met. This year the event was already sold out before Yom Tov.
The feeling in the auditorium was electric as some of the most popular songs in modern Jewish music as well classic Yom Tov nigunim were sung; it really ushered in a tr...