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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For decades after its liberation, Jews of all affiliations – or no affiliation – prayed at the Kotel in accordance with the 1,500-year-old prayer tradition at the site.
Recently, the Reform movement orchestrated a crisis in “Diaspora-Israel relations” and convinced Israeli politicians that a “Kotel Compromise” is necessary. Following negotiations between the Israeli government, Women of the Wall, and Reform and Conservative movements, the Israeli government’s solution – the Kotel Compromise – would partition the Kotel into two plazas – the “traditional” Kotel Plaza, and a heterodox plaza for mixed prayer. This, said the Reform and Conservative movements, would mend the rift between Diaspora Jews and Israel.
With the ...
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Baltimore, MD - Jan. 16, 2022 - Accu Testing is now expanding our hours to be able to accommodate the community needs. Starting tomorrow Monday January 17, we will be open at 122 Slade Ave Monday thru Thursday ALL DAY from 9am until 8:15pm. Sunday hours remain 10am-12pm and 7-815pm and Friday 730am-11am. Click here to register.
"Shalom Sivan, I read that you tested positive and that you are in isolation. Me too. I wanted to share a thought I had once my door was closed, and members of my household and my customers had to manage without me."In this week's Torah portion, Yitro joins the nation of Israel and notices that Moshe Rabbeinu, his son-in-law, is working from morning until evening, sitting in judgment of the people's disputes. Yitro does not understand why and asks Moshe: 'What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit by yourself, while all the people stand before you from morning till evening?' Moshe Rabbeinu explains to him that his work is never done, that the people never stop coming to him, to which Yitro sharply responds: 'The thing you are doing is not g...
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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.
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Baltimore, MD – Jan. 19, 2022 - It is with regret that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Zina Herman , a’h, mother of Elaine Gerstenfeld.
Shiva is being observed by ZOOM only beginning Friday morning, Jan 21 at 10AM through Wednesday evening.Visiting times: Friday 10-12 Motzaei Shabbos: 7-9 Sun-Wed 10-1, 7-9Click here to join Zoom Meeting ID: 810 045 4925Passcode: shiva
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Vaccine boosters provide robust protection against severe disease from the omicron variant in the United States, according to three reports released Friday that offer the first real-world data in this country showing the utility of the additional shots in keeping vaccinated people out of the hospital.
But the reports by scientists the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are arriving late to the winter surge in coronavirus cases that have choked the corridors of hospitals across much of the country.
When omicron was first identified in late November and began spreading rapidly in the United States, millions of vaccinated people lined up for the extra shots. But that has slowed. To date, 39% of fully vaccinated people have gotten the additional doses, according to the CDC.
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A Michigan judge has apologized to a 72-year-old cancer patient after she shamed him in court for not maintaining his yard and faced widespread condemnation for her harsh remarks.
District Judge Alexis Krot told Burhan Chowdhury during a Michigan state court appearance over Zoom earlier this month that he “should be ashamed” of himself for being unable to clean up the grass that had overtaken the property. Chowdhury struggled to breathe as he explained to the judge that he was “very weak,” but Krot continued to criticize him for the neighborhood blight in Hamtramck, Mich., saying, “If I could give you jail time on this, I would.”
“I made a mistake,” Krot said in a statement shared with The Washington Post. “I acted intemperately. I&rs...
A federal judge in Texas on Friday blocked President Biden's mandate for federal workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the latest blow to the White House's vaccination efforts.
Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed by former President Trump, wrote that the order exceeded the president's authority.
The case is about "whether the President can, with the stroke of a pen and without the input of Congress, require millions of federal employees to undergo a medical procedure as a condition of their employment," Brown wrote.
The Department of Justice immediately said it would appeal.
The order comes after the Supreme Court earlier this month blocked Biden's mandate that employees at businesses with 100 or more workers get vaccinated or regularly tested, w...
A British man conducted Internet searches for influential rabbis, an imprisoned terrorist and gun and pawnshops in the days before he took congregants hostage inside a Texas Reform temple, according to law enforcement officials.
FBI agents examining the digital trail left by 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram have found plenty of evidence hinting at his plan and state of mind in the days before the attack, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Searches on Akram’s cellphone led him to focus on Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of New York City’s Central Synagogue, who has been named on various online lists over the past decade as one of the most influential Jewish people in the country.
Akram, who was shot dead by FBI agents after a...
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday it had cleared more than three-quarters of the nation’s commercial fleet to land at airports where interference from 5G signals could pose a danger in bad weather, but indicated that some planes might never secure approvals.
The agency has been reviewing devices called radar altimeters to determine whether they can still provide reliable measurements of altitude – critical information for landing in bad visibility – in areas with 5G towers. The potential for disruption became clear Thursday, when San Francisco-bound flights were diverted and others were forced to circle as poor visibility collided with the rollout of the new wireless networks.
The diverted flights involved planes that had not been cleared to land where 5...
The media has pitched a rift between Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, but the former president considers it a push of politics of division, Newsmax reports.
“It’s totally fake news,” Trump told Fox News’ “Hannity” on Thursday night, refuting any talk of a rift between the top 2024 GOP presidential contenders. “I think Ron said last week, he said it very publicly, ‘The press is never going to get in the middle of my friendship with Donald Trump. We’re not going to do that stuff.’
“And he said it very strongly. I thought that was very interesting, actually, and very nice. But he said that, and I agree with him 100%. I have a very good relationship with Ron and intend to have it for a...
Haaatchu! One of the hardest things about writing is trying to do what I just did, that is, to write out the sound of a human sneeze. But G-d bless me for going out of my comfort zone and attempting to do so. And for heaven’s sake – or perhaps better stated, for your own sake – may G-d bless you too.
One of the greatest pleasures of this world is when we sneeze. The tremendous amount of satisfaction is simply astounding. In fact, it’s not just scientists who attest to this, Chazal do so as well. The Gemarah in Meseches Brachos (24b) says that one who sneezes during prayer (i.e., Shemonah Esrei), it is a good omen for him, for just as they give him satisfaction in this world, so do they give him satisfaction in heaven. According to Rabbeinu Yonah, a sneeze during pr...
Meteorologist Ava Marie says today will feel very cold, with temperatures stuck below freezing all day. Luckily, most of the pavement had a chance to dry out yesterday, so the icy patches are very isolated. Friday will be cloudy but dry with highs only in the upper 20s. Tonight, a coastal low passes south of Baltimore, with snow accumulation likely on the Lower Eastern Shore. About 1-3” snow possible around Salisbury, with higher amounts possible closer to the coast. Baltimore will stay dry with lows in the teens.
Baltimore, MD – Jan. 21, 2022 – 8:44AM - Greenspring Ave. is closed past the Beltway.
Please use an alternate route.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) reportedly asked a group of Jewish individuals who were visiting the Capitol if they were there to do “reconnaissance,” the visitors told BuzzFeed News.
Boebert is said to have seen the group of visitors on Thursday, looked at them “head to toe” and asked if they were visiting the Capitol to do “reconnaissance,” one person who saw the interaction told the outlet.
“You know, I’m not sure to be offended or not,” one of the rabbis in the group told Buzzfeed News. “I was very confused.”
“When I heard that, I actually turned to the person standing next to me and asked, ‘Did you just hear that?’” the rabbi said.
The group was there to meet with Rep...
“It came about on the next day that Moses sat down to judge the people, and the people stood before Moses from the morning until the evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw what he was doing to the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit by yourself, while all the people stand before you from morning till evening?” Moses said to his father-in-law, “For the people come to me to seek God. If any of them has a case, he comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the statutes of God and His teachings.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out both you and these people who are with you for the matter is too he...