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 Trump administration has agreed to rescind rules it issued last week governing whether international students can enroll at U.S. universities this fall, settling a lawsuit filed by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston federal court.
The schools had asked for a temporary restraining order pausing enforcement of the policy.
At a short hearing Tuesday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs confirmed that a settlement had been reached. She said the government would rescind the policy, withdraw an FAQ detailing the rule and return to the status quo of guidance issued in the spring.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had issued regulations earlier this month limiting foreign students’ ability to take classes online...
PINNED
Scroll for more news
To the Baltimore Community,TA Dinner Distribution this week will be Monday and Thursday from 4-6pm. DO NOT arrive before 3:45pm.It has come to our attention that individuals have been coming to TA early and taking advantage of an earlier dinner distribution that is NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, but is open only to our TA Camp parents, as they are picking up their campers during carpool dismissal. Please note that having non-camp parents come onto campus before 3:45pm poses a serious safety risk to our campers and staff. Please be courteous and respectful of our camp needs as we run our carpool dismissal in a safe and efficient manner. B"H there are plenty of meals for all between the hours of 4-6pm. Anyone arriving to TA before 3:45pm for dinner pickup, who is not a TA Camp parent, will be asked...
Lily Ebert connected with the American family of the soldier who gave her hope upon being liberated during WWII over a Zoom call.
A 90-year-old Holocaust survivor was finally able to thank the family of an American soldier who gave her hope upon being liberated from a Nazi death camp in World War II, 75 years on.
Lily Ebert was connected with the children of the soldier over a Zoom call coordinated by her great-grandson, Dov Forman, on Sunday.
"It is unbelievable. I never knew something like this could happen. It was a fantastic feeling," Ebert told NBC News by phone from her home in London.
Their meeting was made possible by a tweet Forman sent that went viral.
The 16-year-old said he took it upon himself to start documenting Ebert's stories of the war onc...
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Most recent Statements/letters/etc. from the Baltimore Vaad HaRabbanimVaad HaRabbanim Of Baltimore: "Despite Our Diligent Efforts And Vigilance Locally, We Have Had A Slow Trickle Of New Cases In The Past 2 Weeks That Raises Concern." [July 2, 2020]Vaad HaRabbanim Of Baltimore: "Those Shuls Which Are Able To Open In A Manner Deemed Safe May Do So Already For Shabbos" (June 19) Vaad HaRabbanim of Baltimore: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Yesterday’s Vaad Harabanim Letter [June 11, 2020]Vaad HaRabbonim Of Baltimore: A Smorgasbord of Good News (June 10, 2020) Baltimore's Vaad HaRabbanim: Please Make Sure to Vote This Tuesday (May 31, 2020 3:03 PM) Vaad HaRabbonim Of Baltimore: Guidance For Hosting Company for Shavuos 5780 (May 24, 2020)Vaad HaRabbanim Of Baltimo...
Over the course of the pandemic many of us have suffered from isolation and the difficulty of being separated from our friends and family. Unfortunately, no one has quite felt the brunt of the extended shutdown like our nursing home seniors. For months on end, our elderly have been deprived of seeing their families while also missing other visitors and activities that bring simchah into their lives.
Now is your chance to do something about this. This summer, Agudath Israel’s Bnos Division is proud to present the first ever Senior Visitation Virtual Program. This Nine Days, day camps will&...
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.
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD - June 19, 2020 - N’shei Agudath Israel of Baltimore Summer Lecture Series.Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable copy
NSC recommends to prime minister that synagogues, yeshivot be closed entirely to prevent spread of coronavirus.
The National Security Council (NSC) recommended in a discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu that all synagogues and yeshivot be closed in response to the rapid spread of the coronavirus.
The NSC also recommended that the opening of restaurants be limited to take-out and deliveries.
Several of the participants in the discussion recommended the imposition of a full lockdown. However, Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated that two weeks had not passed since the last restrictions were imposed, so it was too soon to impose new restrictions.
The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Yisrael Katz, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, Science and Technology Minister Yizhar Sha...
Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations pledged Monday to invest $220 million in organizations working to promote racial equality in the US.
According to the foundation, $150 million will be given in five-year grants to “Black-led justice organizations that helped to create and now sustain the momentum towards racial equality.” Racial equality groups like Black Voters Matter and Circle for Justice Innovations are among the recipients.
The remaining $70 million will be divided among local initiatives that support progress towards racial justice.
Read more at i24NEWS.
Israeli 'Black Flag' protesters rally against gov't handling of pandemic financial crisis
Clashes erupted Tuesday night between protesters and Israel Police in Jerusalem as demonstrators attempted breaching checkpoints and entering the prime minister’s residence, Hebrew media reported.
Around 2,000 protesters arrived at the rally under the moniker “Bastille Day,” inspired by the July 14th French National Day which commemorates the storming of a grand fortress in what turned out to become the launch of the French Revolution in 1789.
According to outlet N12, protesters marched toward the prime minister’s residence while lifting torches and yelling “Bibi go home!”, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Read more at i2...
Iranian police are investigating an explosion that started a fire at an industrial complex that contains gas condensate storage tanks, Reuters reported reported on Monday.
According to the report, based on Iranian news outlets, Javad Jahandoust, the fire chief at the Kavian Fariman industrial complex, said that six storage tanks were ablaze and that one had exploded.
The industrial complex is located south of the city of Mashhad. Jahandoust said that the fire was under control and that there were no casualties.
This was the latest in a series of mysterious explosions and fires around Iranian military, nuclear and industrial facilities in recent weeks.
Separately, the Iranian currency rial dropped to its lowest ever rate against the U.S. dollar on the unofficial market on Monday, accord...
NEW YORK (Newsmax) – A disturbing new study reveals that people who are infected with COVID-19 could lose their immunity to the novel coronavirus within months. Researchers at King’s College London analyzed the blood of infected patients and healthcare workers and found that the levels of protective antibodies peaked about three weeks after the first symptoms appeared. However, those antibodies were found in only 17% of the patients three months later.
According to The Daily Caller, in some patients, the antibodies were virtually undetectable.
“People are producing a reasonable antibody response to the virus, but it’s waning over a short period of time and depending on how high your peak is, that determines how long the antibodies are staying around,” said D...
NEW YORK (Newsmax) – A group of Catholic churches around the country that were vandalized and burned over the weekend might be linked to the same George Floyd-related protests aimed at destroying symbols and statues.
Black Lives Matter leaders have demanded the toppling of statues of former U.S. presidents, abolitionists and Confederate symbols following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Activist Shaun King went one step further and called for any image depicting a “White European” JC to be ripped down because they represent “White supremacy” and “racist propaganda.”
Some on social media users have brought attention to the scarcity of coverage surrounding the church burnings
“Churches are being burned to the ground. What?” ri...
TEHRAN (JNS) – The Iranian judiciary announced on Tuesday that it had executed a former defense ministry staffer who sold information to the CIA, Reuters reported.
According to the report, based on Iranian news sources, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said that Reza Asgari had worked for the defense ministry for many years, when he developed connections with the CIA that continued after his retirement. He said that Asgari sold data related to Iran’s missile program to the U.S. intelligence agency.
Esmaili pointed, as well, to another case—that of Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd, an Iranian accused of spying for the CIA and Israeli Mossad—who was sentenced to death for having “collected and transmitted intelligence” on the location of Islamic Revolutiona...
TORONTO (AP) — The U.S. and Canada are poised to extend their agreement to keep their shared border closed to non-essential travel to Aug. 21, but a final confirmation has not been given, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday.
The agreement would likely extend the closure by another 30 days. The official was not authorized to speak publicly ahead of an announcement this week, and spoke on condition of anonymity. The restrictions were announced on March 18 and were extended in April, May and June.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week that a decision on the border would be announced “in the coming days.”
“We’re going to continue to work hard to keep Canadians safe and to keep our economies flowing and we will have more to say later t...
Former President Barack Obama on Monday said voting by mail shouldn’t be a partisan issue and that every voter should have a chance to do it, especially given the coronavirus crisis.
“Voting by mail shouldn’t be a partisan issue — especially during a pandemic,” Obama tweeted. “Everybody should be able to request an absentee ballot, and make their voice heard in every election.”
Democrats, including Obama, have touted mail-in voting as a public safety measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the polls and a way to encourage voting among vulnerable populations.
Read more at The Hill.
President Donald Trump has been granted a second 45-day extension to file his personal financial disclosure forms, which give the American public its only detailed look at the president’s private business interests, according to a letter released by the White House.
The forms are supposed to detail Trump’s income, debts, stock holdings and outstanding loans for the year 2019. They were originally due May 15, but Trump got an extension until the end of June.
On June 29, then, Deputy Counsel to the President Scott Gast granted Trump a second extension, until August 13, according to the letter. Federal law allows only two such extensions.
Gast’s letter said that the extension was given for “good cause,” but did not specify what that cause was. A White House sp...
The Tel Aviv District Court ruled on Monday against an Amnesty International petition to cancel the export license of the Israel-based technology company NSO Group, whose spyware, Pegasus, enables the remote surveillance of smartphones.
Amnesty International filed the petition in January, claiming that “NSO Group, the Israeli company marketing its technology in the fight against COVID-19, contributed to a sustained campaign by the government of Morocco to spy on Moroccan journalist Omar Radi,” a human-rights activist critical of the powers-that-be in Rabat.
The court explained its ruling in favor of NSO on the grounds that the granting of export licenses in Israel “is done after the most rigorous process,” and that even after even after an export license is grante...
Yerushalayim has started construction on parts of an NIS 3 billion (approximately $870 million) major highway that will eventually serve as a ring road around Israel’s largest city, with the goal of significantly alleviating traffic throughout the capital. At the same time, planners hope that the project will provide easier access for those entering or passing through the city from all sides.
Building has already commenced on the southern and central sections of the Eastern spur of the highway, which consists of a three-pronged, 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) stretch of pavement known as “The American Road.” When fully completed, the road, which will include bridges and tunnels, will stretch from the Arab neighborhood of Tzur Baher in the southeast to the Naomi Shemer Tunnel i...
