The Hamas terrorist organization responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement outlining Israel's red lines in the negotiations with Hamas for the release of the hostages.
"At a time when we are showing flexibility and a positive approach to facilitate reaching an agreement to end the aggression, Netanyahu is placing additional obstacles before the negotiations, escalating his aggression and his crimes against our people and continuing his attempts forcibly displace them in order to thwart all efforts to reach an agreement," the Hamas statement said.
The terrorist organization continued, "We demand that the mediators intervene to put an end to Netanyahu's games and his crimes, and we demand that the international community and the UN fulfill their legal and...
Three Columbia University administrators have been “permanently removed” from their positions after images were published of texts they sent mocking a panel on Jewish life on campus, University President Minouche Shafik and University Provost Angela Olinto announced in an email to the university community on Monday.
Shafik stated that the comments made by the three administrators were “unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community.”
She added that the messages were “antithetical to our university’s values and the standards.”
The administrators have been placed on indefinite leave. Though they remain in the university's employ, they will ...
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Baltimore, MD – July 8, 2024 - It is with deep regret and sorrow that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Shlomo Balakhani, z’l, husband of Yaffa Balakhani, and father of Yitzchok (Miriam) Yair, Benyamin (Vivi) Balakhani, and Shimon (Michal) Balakhani.
The Levayah will be held at Levinson’s today, July 8, 2024, at 4:30 PM.Kevurah will take place at the Agudah Cemetery 6347 Hamilton Ave., Rosedale, MD, 21237Shiva will be observed through Sunday, July 14, at 6708 Cross Country Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21215.The family respectfully requests no visiting between:12 Noon-3:00PM, 7:00PM-8:00PM, and after 10:00PM. Minyanim:• Shacharit: 7:30 AM• Mincha / Arvit : 8:15PM• ...
Baltimore, MD - July 8, 2024 — With high temperatures expected to continue in the Baltimore region and the heat index forecasted to reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit through Thursday, the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga, has extended the existing Code Red Extreme Heat Alert through Thursday, July 11th. The heat index is a measure of air temperature and relative humidity and indicates how hot it feels to the human body.
“With the continuation of the current heat wave, an extension to the Code Red Extreme Heat Alert is vital for the safety and well-being of our residents and community,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga. “With temperatures and humidity levels expected to remain dangerously high, it’s crucial that we ...
Jewish Unity: From Milwaukee to Herzliya
"Each morning, first thing, before I eat or drink anything, I say a chapter of Tehillim for 'my hostage.'" This is what Hedva Federman said while driving me to Chicago from Milwaukee, where I had given a series of lectures at events organized by Chabad.
"There was an event held here, where everyone was encouraged to 'adopt' a hostage, and pray for them," Hedva explained. "I adopted Omer Shem Tov, whom I was told is 21, and so I have been reciting Psalm 22 every day for him." (There is a custom to recite the number of the Psalm that corresponds to the number of a person's upcoming birthday, for Divine protection.)
"Wait, he didn't turn 22 yet, right?" Hedva asked. "Because then, I'd have to be saying Psalm 23."
...
On Monday, Baltimore Police Department released their mid-year crime report for 2024.
Officials say the police department has seen a 36% decrease in homicides and a 30% decrease in non-fatal shootings.
The police department says the clearance rates for homicides has improved to 70.1%, an increase of 24% from this time last year.In response to these positive statistics, Baltimore City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer commented: “I commend Commissioner Worley for responding to our calls for additional detectives, which has significantly improved case clearance rates and removed more criminals from the streets of Baltimore.”
This year, the Department has arrested 53 suspects for homicides and there are open warrants for seven additional suspects, according to the report.
The suspe...
President Biden on Monday bluntly rejected suggestions that he bow out of the presidential race in a letter to congressional Democrats, arguing it would undermine the preference of voters and ignore his record.
The president, in a letter shared by his campaign, spoke directly to drama that has engulfed the Democratic Party since his disastrous debate performance June 27 and called for lawmakers to unite behind his candidacy.
“The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end,” Biden wrote. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together.”
A growing number of Democrats have in recent days come forward to suggest B...
Baltimore, MD – July 8, 2024 - Please be cautious when entering the 7MM parking lot from Seven Mile Lane. CrashChampions is currently resurfacing the area, causing partial closures. Notably, the section between Seven Mile Lane and Starbucks, located behind The Rite Aid, is currently impacted.
Please follow signs throughout this week as the entrances from Seven Mile Lane might be temporarily closed as needed.
In the wake of the far left’s strong showing in France’s parliamentary election yesterday, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman calls on French Jews to “to leave France and immigrate to the State of Israel,” adding that there is “no time” to lose.
No party won a majority in the second round of France’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, in which all 577 seats of the National Assembly were in play. According to Le Monde, the left-wing New Popular Front alliance won 182 seats while the centrist Ensemble, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, won 168.
Following the election, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the French far-left leader, promised “to recognize the State of Palestine.”
Mélenchon, says Liberman, “became famous wit...
Baltimore, MD - July 8, 2024 - Average gasoline prices in Baltimore have risen 0.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.57/g today, according to GasBuddy's survey of 663 stations in Baltimore.
Prices in Baltimore are 6.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 0.6 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has risen 3.6 cents in the last week and stands at $3.81 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Baltimore was priced at $3.32/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.99/g, a difference of 67.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.25/g while the highest was $4.24/g, a difference of 99.0 cents per gallon.
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:
...
Agreeing to a deal with Hamas would constitute “a defeat and humiliation for Israel and a victory for [Hama leader Yahya] Sinwar,” Religious Zionism chief Bezalel Smotrich warns ahead of the Israeli negotiating team’s departure for further hostage deal talks in Cairo and Doha later this week.
Addressing reporters ahead of his Religious Zionism party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, the hard-right finance minister claims that a deal like the one being negotiated “will sentence to death 90 hostages who are not part of the deal and it will lead to thousands of murdered people who will die in the next massacre by Sinwar and Hamas.”
“This is the picture we will see in Gaza if we, God forbid, sign this irresponsible deal,” he said holding...
Created Only After Man
Human beings are different than the rest of the world’s species. We are the only ones who believe that our lives are supposed to matter and, thus, the only ones who become depressed when we feel like we are not impactful. These feelings emanate from Hashem's having created us in His image, which endowed us with the ability and responsibility to direct the rest of creation. This role sets us apart and empowers us in the grand scheme of the world's development.[1]
Hashem created man with a sense of responsibility for the world and the world as dependent upon man. We see this dependency from the delay of the emergence of the world’s vegetation until man was created to cultivate it.[2] Hashem could have developed the world without, or at least bef...
The left-wing alliance of the New Popular Front is leading in the second round of legislative elections in France, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance and the far right National Front, with none of the blocs obtaining an absolute majority in the National Assembly, according to the first estimates from polling institutes out of the ballot boxes on Sunday.
The New Popular Front will receive anywhere from 172 to 215 deputies, depending on projections from four different polling institutes. All rank Macron's Renaissance under Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in second place, with 150 to 180 seats, ahead of the National Rally with 115 to 155 elected officials. Until now, polls projected the far-right party to win elections.
Attal said he would submit his resi...
The State Control Committee on Monday will hold a discussion regarding the matter of haredi IDF battalions, initiated by MK Meir Cohen of Yesh Atid.
Ahead of the meeting, Cohen ordered a survey on steps which could potentially increase the number of Charedim enlisting in the IDF.
The survey, published by Maariv, showed that in response to the question, "If the IDF created a variety of units in which there were conditions which allow Charedi men to preserve their lifestyle, would this increase the chance that more haredi men would enlist in the IDF?" over 60% of respondents answered in the affirmative.
According to the report, the percentage of respondents who believe that such adjustments would lead to more haredim enlisting is higher among older respondents (age 40 and up) and Cha...
Lt. Oriel Mashiach, commander of the Sabar Battalion in the Givati Brigade, provided some insight to Maariv on Sunday into the combat operations in Rafah: "We are conducting very intense combat. Rafah is devoid of civilians, and what we see are the terrorists.
"We encounter a weary and demoralized enemy," he emphasized. "We have full control of the area and it seems the enemy struggles to fight. We face individuals who move independently. They operate on their own, tired and exhausted; some surrender upon seeing us, while others engage in suicidal actions."
Lieutenant Mashiach and his Givati soldiers have been fighting since October 7. However, he stressed that "Every soldier understands the mission and its significance. Our mission is to bring the hostages home. This burn...
The IDF initiated a reinvasion of Gaza City on Monday for the first time since January, including accompanying tanks and air strikes The Jerusalem Post has confirmed.
Reports about the reinvasion started trickling in earlier Monday from Reuters citing Palestinian residents, which cited IDF tanks had rolled into the city, amid heavy fire.
This is the fifth reinvasion of Gaza by the IDF since it achieved operational control over northern Gaza and central Gaza in January-February.
Prior reinvasions included: Shifa Hospital, Jabalya, Nuseirat, and a current ongoing reinvasion of Shejaia.
The reinvasions have been controversial. On one hand, the IDF has said it shows that they can break apart Hamas the second it tries to reconstitute itself.
On the other hand, they seem to s...
Baltimore, MD – July 7, 2024 - It is with deep regret and sorrow that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Rena Baron, a’h, wife of Yoni Baron, mother of Eli Baron, Adina Baron, Shira Baron, Meira Baron, Elana Baron, Shalva Baron and Tova Baron; daughter of Rabbi Daniel and Susan Lapin, and sister of Rebecca (Max) Masinter, Rachelle (Zev) Stern, Ari (Menucha) Lapin, Ruthie (Asher) Abraham, Miriam (Anshel) Kaplan and Tamara (David) Sasson.
The levayah be held at tomorrow, Monday, July 8, 2024 at 2:00PM at Levinson’s.
Click here to watch the levayah livestream
The kevurah will take place at Liberty Park Cemetery of Shaarei Zion.
Shiva will be observed at 3000 West Strathmore Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21209
Minyanim:
Shacharis:...
Baltimore, MD – July 7, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira Mrs Eva Davidovits, a’h, mother of Mrs. Pesi (R’ Yankel) Herskovitz.
The Levaya will take place today, Sunday, July 7th at 11:30 am at Bais Hamedrash Netzach Yisroel, 49 Forshay Road, Monsey, NY, 10952.
Shiva will be observed at 4 Orchard Hill Drive, Monsey, NY. Sitting shiva at the Worch residence are daughters, Pesi Herskovitz, (410-336-2556 )Hedy Worch, and Judy Haas.
Pesi Herskovitz will sit in Baltimore, at 6402 Cross Country Blvd., Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm and Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Bila HaMaves LaNetzach…
Negotiations for a hostage release agreement for the Israeli hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza finally seem to be on the right track, even though, as former intelligence officer Raphael Jerusalmy told i24NEWS, "Hamas is used to saying 'yes,' then 'but.'" The terrorist group particularly refuses an independent foreign Arab presence governing Gaza after the war, "which could represent a significant drawback" to any deal.
Aong the points on which the two parties agree is the timing of the release of the Israeli hostages. A high-ranking Hamas source said on Saturday that the revised proposal provided for talks for the release of the Israeli hostages, including soldiers and "young and healthy" men, to begin within a period of 16 days after the start of the first ph...
