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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Baltimore, MD - Nov. 21, 2022 - On Sunday, November 13th Kesser Torah (KT) invited the entire Baltimore community to its campus to celebrate in the Chanukas Habayis of its new Bais Medrash. The yeshiva was joined by hundreds of community members as well as local rabbonim and Gedolei Roshei Yeshiva of America. The purpose of the evening was to give shevach to Hakadosh Baruh Hu for the overflowing Siyata d’Shamaya that has allowed KT to grow into a yeshiva of over 130 bochurim on a 40+ acre campus in just six short years.
The evening began with a reception for the many members of the community who have generously partnered with the yeshiva to aid in the renovations required to turn a monastery into a Makom Torah. Following the reception, hundreds headed to the new Bais M...
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Baltimore, MD - Nov. 21, 2022 - Best-selling author Yocheved Rigler has discovered a secret society. Qualifications for membership include Holocaust-related recurring dreams, panic attacks, fearsome flashbacks, and phobias in children born after 1945. “I’ve Been Here Before” is her groundbreaking, meticulously researched book that provides evidence that is as startling as it is mysteriously affirming. Sara will be speaking about the reactions to her book. Click on the graphic below to purchase tickets now
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 25, 2022 – 1:55PM - BJL - A 4 car MVA - including a car fire - on 695 West half a mile before exit 25 for Charles Street has traffic backed up for miles.
Hat Tip: SK1
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Baltimore, MD – Nov. 25, 2022 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Shlomo Asher and Brendel Plonka on the birth of a son.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration says they will begin shifting traffic lanes and installing work zone traffic barriers at the I-95/I-695 interchange in Arbutus, Baltimore County on Monday, November 28.
The road work will help prepare for the rehabilitation of 10 bridges within the interchange.
MDOT officials say the work is expected to be completed by December 1.
The overnight lane and ramp closures are scheduled as follows:Monday Night, November 28
Motorists can expect single-lane closures in Arbutus on southbound I-95 at I-695 beginning at 7 p.m., then a double-lane closure at 9 p.m., and a triple lane closure at midnight until 5 a.m. the next day. MDOT SHA will also close the ramp from southbound I-95 to the outer loop of I-695 (eastbound) from ...
Baltimore, MD – Nov. 25, 2022 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Zalmy Lavi and Ori Topper on their engagement.
Mazel tov to the Lavi and Topper families.
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Thousands of Amazon warehouse workers are today staging a mass Black Friday strike across 40 countries including the US and Germany in a row over pay and working conditions.
The global strike action on one of the biggest shopping days of the year was called for by campaign group Make Amazon Pay. It has titled the protests 'Make Amazon Pay Day'.
The initiative, promoted by groups on Twitter under #MakeAmazonPay listed the industrial action planned in the 40 countries across the globe.
Employees at a company workhouse in St Peters, Missouri, will today stop work as part of the protests and Whole Foods stores owned by Amazon will also take labor actions. Strike action will also take place in Bessemer, Alabama; Columbia, Maryland; Detroit,...
ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,131 hiring managers in November, asking them about their views of Jewish individuals and their perspectives on antisemitism in the workplace.
What did they find in their survey?
Their survey showed that 26% of hiring managers say they are less likely to move forward with Jewish applicants. When asked why, 38% said that "Jews have too much power and control," which is also tied to another 38% who said, "Jews claim to be the 'chosen people.'"
A few of the other "reasons" were that "Jews have too much wealth", "Jews are greedy", "Jews killed Jesus," and many other antisemitism responses, according to the ResumeBuilder survey.
Another 26% of hiring managers make assumptions about whether or not the applicant is Jewish based on their looks an...
Online safety experts say this will spur a rise in harassment, hate speech and misinformation
Elon Musk said late Thursday that he will provide "general amnesty" to suspended accounts on Twitter starting next week, after running a poll on whether to do so for users who had not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.
Out of the roughly 3.2K votes Musk polled, 72.4% were in favor of bringing back users who had been suspended by the platform.
“The people have spoken. Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”
Open to all users, polls on Twitter are notoriously unreliable and potentially targeted by fake accounts and bots.
Last week, Musk reinstated...
With Itamar Ben-Gvir to serve as the Minister for National Security
Likud, the part of Israel's prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu, reached on Friday an initial coalition agreement with the far-right Jewish Power party that will see leader Itamar Ben-Gvir appointed the Minister for National Security.
It is understood the post represents a version of the Public Security portfolio with an expanded purview that also includes the Real Estate Enforcement division and the West Bank Border Police division. Additionally, Ben-Gvir's party will be tasked with Negev and Galilee ministry—which will now be decoupled from the Social Periphery Ministry—and the Heritage Ministry.
Amichai Eliyahu will preside over the latter, while the Negev and Galilee Ministry wi...
Police say the incident is nationalistically motivated arson attack
Unknown vandals torched rive vehicles in the majority Arab towns of Abu Ghosh and Ein Naqquba, near Jerusalem, Israeli police said on Friday.
According to police, evidence points to arson motivated by nationalist hate. The slogans "Arabs out" and "the nation of Israel lives" were scrawled at the scenes.
No one was hurt in the incidents but the vehicles were completely destroyed. Acts of vandalism by Jewish extremists targeting Arab property are known in Israel as "price tag" attacks.
The acts of vandalism come amid a wave of terrorist attacks targeting Israelis and rising Israeli-Palestinian tensions. On Wednesday, two coordinated bombings in Jerusalem injured 18 people and le...
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 70% of the Ukrainian capital was still without power
The Ukrainian capital Kyiv remained without heat or power on Friday after the most devastating Russian air strikes on the country's energy grid so far, as residents were warned to brace for further attacks and stock up on water, food and warm clothing.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 70% of the Ukrainian capital was still without power. "During the day, energy companies plan to reconnect electricity for all consumers on an alternating basis," he wrote on Telegram, as temperatures approached freezing.
The systematic Russian attacks have been denounced by Ukraine's allies as a "war crime" and come in the wake of a string of military setbacks for Russia on the frontlines. Western ...
Baltimore, Md - Nov. 25, 2022 - RUUUUUUUNN! This word is usually associated with online deals that you don't want to miss. But if you think about it, this word is very much associated with Parshas Toldos. Rivka had two children inside of her, each one running in their own direction. In this week's episode of The Torah Sparks Podcast, we discuss an incredible Rashi in 25:22, and bring out a valuable lesson for our Divine service.
Click here to listen.
Powered by TYARUUUUUUUNN!Everyone associates the word “running” with different things. If you are a criminal, you probably think about running from the cops. If you are a politician, you probably think about running for a government position. If you are a grammar teacher, you probably think about run on sentences. If yo...
Could it really happen here? Could “it” – the kind of antisemitism that morphs and mutates into violent hate and rage – really happen here, in America? We hear too many individuals – celebrities, “influencers”, politicians, media personalities – speaking the “dog whistle” messages out loud. We hear ancient, hateful tropes “normalized”. We hear in criticism of Israel much more than legitimate policy differences. All conspiring to force the question, Could it happen here?
Already, we have witnessed too many acts of violence and trespass against our people and our institutions; too many instances where voices have been raised without being shouted down, too many acts that seem to find approv...