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Shabbos Vayechi highlights an important and often overlooked message. As we read about Yaakov Avinu preparing for the end of his life and giving clear instructions regarding his kevurah, we are reminded that planning ahead is not only responsible but deeply rooted in Torah values.Yet for many, end-of-life planning is postponed indefinitely. Even in the frum community, many are unaware of the practical and halachic details that can significantly affect kavod hameis and a family’s peace of mind. When these matters are addressed thoughtfully in advance, families avoid unnecessary stress and uncertainty during already difficult moments.To help the community gain the clarity they need, NASCK is offering two free live workshops over Shabbos Vayechi weekend, presented by Rabbi Elchonon Zohn...
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday evening deboarded a plane at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York after arriving in the United States, according to a federal official and footage aired by CNN affiliate WCBS.
The captured Venezuelan leader was seen in grey clothing and handcuffs, escorted by more than a dozen federal agents dressed in black, WCBS reported.
Maduro is expected to be transported by helicopter to Manhattan before being taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility that has housed several high‑profile defendants in major federal cases, including Sean “Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried.
He is scheduled to face drugs and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court next week.
Maduro and his wife were c...
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Baltimore, MD – January 1, 2026 – BJL regrets to inform the community of the petira of Mrs. Susan Bergman, a’h, beloved mother of Nitzan Bergman.
The levaya will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (PST) 1:00PM (Baltimore) at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks, 6150 Mt. Sinai Dr., Simi Valley, CA 93063.Click here for Live stream
Kevurah will take place at Mount Sinai Memorial Parks.
Shiva will be observed as follows: • Los Angeles: 2131 Century Park Ln., Building 3, Apt. 108, through Monday • Baltimore: Beginning Tuesday night, with Maariv at 8:00 p.m., continuing Wednesday with Shacharis at 8:00 a.m. and Mincha/Maariv at 4:45 p.m., at 3310 Labyrinth Rd., Baltimore, MD 21215
Those wishing to share memories and tributes may do so at: https://...
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Baltimore, MD - Dec. 30, 2025 - The Eruv of Baltimore has launched a centralized online hub at eruvofbaltimore.org. Community members can now check the Eruv status, support the organization through donations, and manage their listings in one place. To ensure you stay informed, the site also offers sign-ups for weekly Erev Shabbos alerts via email, text, or phone.
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 3, 2026 - The United States conducted a “large-scale strike” early Saturday in Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro, flying him and his wife out of the country, President Donald Trump said.
Here's how Maryland leaders reacted to the strike.
Congressman Kweisi Mfume
"Donald Trump's illegal invasion of the sovereign country of Venezuela without military provocation should anger every American and every member of Congress. Trump was elected to run the United States, not Venezuela. With everyday people struggling to find a way to pay for increasing healthcare costs, higher grocery bills and home heating bills, we don't need a gangster President who spends time invading another country but refuses to take care of American...
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded Saturday night to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's expression of support for Venzuelan President Nicolás Maduro following the US' capture of Maduro and his wife.
"I pity ppl of NY for electing a mayor who sides with a drug trafficker & ally of Iran & Hezbollah rather than his constituents," Huckabee commented. "Will he & Sen Van Hollen go to Maduro's jail cell to sip margaritas for solidarity?"
Earlier, Mamdani wrote, "I was briefed this morning on the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City."
"Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and in...
Hours after the dramatic announcement of the capture of Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, new details emerged about the operation that led to his downfall.
The reports reveal a complex, well-coordinated, multi-stage operation carried out deep in the Venezuelan capital.
According to sources quoted in The New York Times, CIA agents began intensive intelligence gathering as early as last August, using a secret agent inside the Venezuelan government.
Information provided by the agent allowed identification of "a pattern of unusual behavior" at the Puerta Tiuana base - considered Maduro's personal stronghold - where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were observed.
Meanwhile, as published in The Washington Post, destroyers including USS Iwo Jima, USS Ne...
Hours after an audacious military operation that plucked leader Nicolás Maduro from power and removed him from the country, President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States would run Venezuela at least temporarily and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations.
The dramatic action capped an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign on the South American nation and its autocratic leader and months of secret planning resulting in the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Legal experts immediately raised questions about whether the operation was lawful, and Venezuela’s vice president demanded in a speech that the U.S. free Maduro and called him the country’s rightful leader.
Speak...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 2, 2026 - In 2025, Maryland taxpayers saw many tax and fee increases, but the state is still facing a major budget deficit, and that means 2026 could bring more of the same.
From increased vehicle registration fees to a 6% vending machine tax, an increased emissions testing fee up to $30, a sports betting hike from 15 to 20%, and many more.
Anirban Basu, a local economist and CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc, said, “There was $1.6 billion in additional taxes to try and address a $3.3 billion fiscal shortfall.”
Now in 2026, lawmakers are still facing a nearly $1.5 billion budget deficit as they head into session in mid-January.
“This might actually be a legislative session that is more focused on cost cutting and reducing state expenditures,&rdqu...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 2, 2026 - Kollel Avreichim Baltimore hosted its first Yarchei Kallah learning program this week. Now settled into their own building after spending the past year as guests of Khal Ahavas Yisroel Tzemach Tzedek, the kollel took the opportunity to invite the broader community to join them and use their day off from work to dedicate time to Torah.
The program began with a light breakfast, followed by a seder hachanah on the sugya of Chukas HaGoyim, and continued with an engaging and interactive shiur delivered by the Rosh HaKollel, Rabbi Binyomin Chajes. The lomdim expressed that the Yarchei Kallah left a profound impression, enriching their grasp of the sugya and enhancing their appreciation for ongoing limud haTorah.
B’ezras Hashem, Kollel Avreichim looks forw...
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 2, 2026 - Baltimore achieved a historic milestone in 2025 with its lowest homicide count on record and 101 fewer non-fatal shootings compared to 2024. But as the city enters 2026, residents have varying perspectives on whether they actually feel safer in their daily lives.
Sydney Clayton, a Fells Point neighbor, said the city's reputation doesn't match her personal experience.
"There is obviously a stigma when people talk about Baltimore and I don't feel that whenever I am around here. I don't intentionally walk alone at night but other times where I've had to I feel safe," Clayton said.
Clayton praised the declining crime statistics.
Day Gilmore, who has lived in Columbia for more than 40 years, said he's proud to see Baltimore ...
Baltimore, MD – January 2, 2026 (7:50AM) – Due to an accident at the intersection of Park Heights & Fallstaff, traffic is blocked on Fallstaff between Park Heights and Cross Country Boulevard.
Baltimore, MD – January 1, 2026 – BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Baruch and Daniella Ruben on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel Tov to the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Attar.
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – December 31, 2025 – BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Avi Lowenthal (Baltimore) and Toby Meth (Baltimore) on their engagement.
Mazel Tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Norman & Shaindy Lowenthal and Mr. & Mrs. Reuven & Debra Meth.
This week we read of the death of Yaakov and his burial in the Cave of Machpelah in Chevron.
Although the Torah does not cite the exact date of his death, tradition as recorded by the Chasam Sofer has it that he transpired on the first day of Sukkos, the fifteenth of Tishrei.
The Chasam Sofer goes on to hypothesize that he was buried on the Tenth of Teves.
The Torah depicts the seventy days of embalming and wailing that took place after his death before they began the trek to bury him. The trip took eight days. When the procession arrived in the Land of Israel, they first observed seven days of mourning prior to the burial.
With the total number of days from death to burial being eighty-five days, assuming Tishrei was a full thirty day month — and thus sixteen remaining days to T...
Parshas Vayechi represents the culmination of creation, the end of Sefer Breishis. The world and its teva are in place, Avraham Avienu forms his Bris with Hashem, thus beginning the Jewish people and Avraham’s children lead to the birth and forming of the Shivtei Yisroel – the 12 Shevatim. Indeed, much of the Parsha centers around Yaakov’s brachos to his sons. Perhaps most fitting, within the brachos we find a telling piece of musar, one as applicable today as it was then, some three thousand years ago.
While much commentary has been devoted to the contents of each Bracha, perhaps the most stunning is the “blessing” given to Shimon and Levy. The “bracha” given to Shimon and Levy is unique in many respects. First, they...
Annapolis, MD - Jan 1, 2026 - A new set of Maryland laws passed during the 2025 legislative session will take effect January 1, 2026, covering issues from property tax procedures to health insurance requirements. Maryland General Assembly
One of the laws revises the state’s property tax sales process by allowing a tax collector to withhold certain owner-occupied property — including property occupied by an heir of a deceased owner — from tax sale and requiring counties to establish a registry for interested parties.
Continuing care providers will see changes to governing body membership under another law going into effect at the start of 2026
Transportation network companies — including rideshare services — will be required to provide weekl...
