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 National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch Sunday evening for much of Maryland with 50 mph wind gusts possible.
BALTIMORE, MD — With a severe thunderstorms moving through parts of Baltimore and Harford counties, the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch Sunday evening, May 26, into early Monday for several counties and Baltimore City. A severe thunderstorm watch means thunderstorms may develop that could produce large hail or damaging winds.
At 8:32 p.m. a severe thunderstorm was located near Fallston, or 7 miles east of Cockeysville, moving southeast at 30 mph. The storm is capable of 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail. Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure anyone outdoors, as well...
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Washington - The cover story in this week’s Politico magazine, about how Jewish presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to be a millionaire, shows him standing next to a tree sprouting leaves made of money.
Progressives on Twitter, including Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called the illustrations anti-Semitic.
Politico originally tweeted the article under the heading “Bernie Sanders might still be cheap, but he’s sure not poor,” leading to criticism about promulgating the anti-Semitic tropes of both cheap Jews and rich Jews.
Politico later changed the tweet of the article to read: “Bernie Sanders has three homes and a net worth approaching at least $2 million. In a strict, bottom-line sense, he has become one of those rich people agai...
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said Sunday that Germany’s recommendation that Jews not wear a yarmulke in public marked the government’s “capitulation to anti-Semitism” and was evidence that Jews are not safe in the country.
Germany’s commissioner on anti-Semitism said in an interview published over the weekend that he “cannot advise Jews to wear the kippah everywhere all the time in Germany,” given increasing anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish attacks.
The Israeli president said he was deeply shocked by the government’s statement that “it would be preferable for Jews not wear a kippa in Germany out of fear for their safety.”
“We acknowledge and appreciate moral position of the German government, and its commitment to the Jew...
A former Republican congressman who served for nearly two decades in the House slammed President Trump on Friday as an “illegitimate president” and called for his impeachment.
“I’m calling for impeachment now because the Mueller report is out, and in it [special counsel Robert Mueller] describes 10 obstructions of justice charges that he could not bring because of a Department of Justice rule and regulation that says you can’t indict a sitting president. That’s number one,” former Rep. Tom Coleman (R-Mo.) told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
The longtime GOP lawmaker, who left the House in 1993, said his other reason for calling for the president to be removed was because Trump “welcomed help and influence” from Russians during his campaign...
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.
The Palestinian Authority in recent weeks foiled a bomb attack by a 23-year-old West Bank teacher who was recruited by the Islamic State to target Israelis, according to a Ynet news report published Sunday.
Ala’ Bashir from the northwestern West Bank village of Qalqilya was arrested earlier this month after she was recruited to the Islamic State through the Telegram messaging app to carry out a suicide bombing attack in Israel.
Following online pressure to release Bashir, Palestinian security services released a vague statement that said the teacher’s arrest followed her recruitment by outside actors which have been working to “destabilize the organs of the security authority and the stability of the surrounding countries.”
Read more at i24NEWS.
Baltimore, MD - May 26, 2019 - Over 400 children and 100 teachers and support staff joined a Baltimore Lag B'Omer Unity Event on Thursday, May 23. A project of Chabad of Park Heights and Yeshivas Lubavitch of Baltimore, students from Darchei Noam Montessori, Cheder Chabad and Jewels inclusive school joined together at Police Academy fields for a fun-filled day including greetings from Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, words of Torah shared by school representatives, the giving of charity and singing followed by a guest entertainer and a short play about Lag B'Omer.
The event continued with a joyous parade through Northern Parkway and Park Heights Ave with the children marching with banners and Jewish themed floats, as is a tradition on this auspicious day. The festivities culminated ...
Baltimore, MD – May 26, 2019 - It is with deep sadness that BaltimoreJewishLife.com informs the community of the petirah of Mrs. Florence (Faiga Sima) Rabi, a’h, mother of Mrs. Malya Gholian, Yitzchak Isaac Rabi, Moshe (Moses) Rabi, and Shmuel Rabi.
The levayah will take place today at 3:30 PM in New York.
Shiva will be observed beginning Monday morning, May 27, at 7111 Park Heights Ave, Unit 303, Baltimore, MD, 21215.
Visiting Hours: Monday 12pm-3pm, 5pm-8pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11am -2pm and 5pm-8pm Friday 11am-4pm
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach...
Baltimore, MD - May 26, 2019 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Ahron Wolasky & Henny Lerner on their engagement
Mazel Tov to Jerry & Sora Wolasky and Pini & Chani Lerner
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Kiddush Hashem: A yeshiva bochur who caught a ball at the Mets game today seen giving it over to a young boy whose birthday is today.
Baltimore, MD – May 26, 2019 – If you would tell someone living in Baltimore for more than 20 years that there was a tremendous fire burning at the corner of Park Heights and Pinkney this past Wednesday evening, they would assume that the Baltimore City Fire Department would have been called to extinguish the blaze.
My how Baltimore has changed.
Khal Chasidim D’Baltimore has only increased the flame of Torah burning in our community and Wednesday night’s Hadloka for the Hilula of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochoi was just one perfect example.
After Maariv the Rosh Kollel, Harav Hershel Rosenfeld, shlita, was m’chubad with lighting the medura and the traditional nigunim of Lag BaOmer were sung by an assortment of the Kollel’s Yungerleit accompanied with Music by...
Williamstown, KY - In the Bible, the ark survived an epic flood. Yet the owners of Kentucky’s Noah’s ark attraction are demanding their insurance company bail them out after flooding caused nearly $1 million in property damage.
The Ark Encounter says in a federal lawsuit that heavy rains in 2017 and 2018 caused a landslide on its access road. The Courier Journal reports the attraction’s insurance carriers refused to cover the damage.
The 510-foot-long wooden ark has been a popular northern Kentucky attraction since its 2016 opening. The lawsuit says the road has been rebuilt. The ark was not damaged.
The suit names Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings of Switzerland, its use company and three other insurance carriers.
Ark Encounter seeks compensatory and punitive damag...
Salt Lake City - A longtime Utah judge has been suspended without pay for six months for comments he made online and in court criticizing President Donald Trump, including a post bashing his “inability to govern and political incompetence.”
Judge Michael Kwan’s numerous posts on Facebook and LinkedIn in 2016-2017 criticizing Trump violated the judicial code of conduct and diminished “the reputation of our entire judiciary,” wrote Utah State Supreme Court Justice John A. Pearce in an opinion posted Wednesday. His Facebook account was private, but could have been shared by friends, Pearce wrote.
“Judge Kwan’s behavior denigrates his reputation as an impartial, independent, dignified, and courteous jurist who takes no advantage of the office in whic...
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said on Sunday that the Palestinians can’t continue recognizing Israel when it doesn’t recognize them.
“We will reexamine all agreements signed with Israel. It is impossible to continue recognizing Israel as long as it does not recognize us,” Shtayyeh said.
Shtayyeh seemed to respond to calls from the PLO and some Fatah institutions which have called for a revision of ties with Israel in light of US “bias” in favor of Israel.
Read more at i24NEWS.
Washington - A Republican congressman and former CIA officer says America isn’t prepared for disinformation campaigns that use altered video to spread false information across social media.
Texas Rep. Will Hurd’s comments come days after an altered video giving the false impression that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was slurring her words spread widely online.
Associated Press journalists did a side-by-side comparison of the false video to C-SPAN footage of Pelosi’s speech at a conference in Washington and concluded the altered video had been slowed down.
Hurd also raised concerns on CBS’s “Face the Nation” about “deepfake” videos that use artificial intelligence to create realistic-looking videos of real people saying things they’ve ne...
MK and ministers from the Likud faction were asked to show up at the Knesset tomorrow to vote to dismiss the current Knesset.
“Hello everyone, Please be at tomorrow at 16:00 in the plenum to vote on the Knesset Dispersion Law. Attendance is mandatory. There are no excuses and no absences. Please confirm!” the message sent to the faction said.
The message appears to signal the end of negotiations to form a new coalition following last month’s Knesset elections.
Read more at Arutz Sheva.
Tokyo - Seemingly contradicting his national security adviser, President Donald Trump on Sunday played down North Korea’s recent missile tests and said they were not a concern for him. The comments tweeted during his trip to Japan were sure to unnerve leaders of the U.S. ally that, unlike America, is threatened by short-range weapons from its Asian neighbor.
Trump also said North Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s criticism of Joe Biden, the former vice president who is among the Democrats running for the White House in 2020, made him smile.
The remarks were the latest example of Trump’s willingness to publicly undermine his senior advisers, flout democratic norms and side with totalitarian leaders.
“North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my p...
Wailuku, HI - A Hawaii woman has been found alive in a forest on Maui island after going missing more than two weeks ago.
Amanda Eller was found injured in the Makawao Forest Reserve, the Maui News reported Friday.
Family spokeswoman Sarah Haynes confirmed she spoke with Eller’s father, John. Eller was airlifted to safety.
“I was crying tears of joy,” Eller’s mother, Julia, said. “I never gave up hope for a minute. I knew that we would find her.”
The physical therapist from the Maui town of Haiku went missing on May 8. Her white Toyota RAV4 was found in the forest parking lot with her phone and wallet inside.
Hundreds of volunteers have searched for her since. Eller’s parents had offered a $10,000 reward to encourage people to find her.
Javie...
Paris - Marine Le Pen’s far-right party edged just ahead of the centrist alliance of President Emmanuel Macron in exit polls as French voters led what pollsters expected to be a nationalist surge in an EU parliament election on Sunday.
The defeat for the president was narrow amid a sharply increased turnout that was matched across the continent in what Brussels is portraying as a positive sign, in spite of gains for anti-EU groups.
Le Pen’s National Rally would get just one more seat than Macron’s En Marche, with 24 of France’s 74 in the European Parliament, the exit poll showed.
But it was a bitter blow for those who hope the French leader can inspire Europeans to embrace the Union as an answer rather than as part of the problem in the face of social change that...