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Baltimore, MD - Feb. 24, 2025 - At Mesivta Kesser Torah, we take pride in every bochur—in his growth, his hasmadah, and his place in the mesorah of Klal Yisroel. Each talmid is not just a part of the yeshiva; he is a treasured jewel upon its crown.
This was so vividly seen this past month, as we gathered for two extraordinary events:
שאל אביך ויגדך – A powerful father-son learning event, where fathers and sons connected through the eternal bond of Torah.
זקניך ויאמרו לך – A special grandfather-grandson learning event, where generations joined together to share in the mesorah, strengthening the crown of Torah that has been passed down for centuries.
At Kesser Torah, this is our mission: to instill in each talmid...
Conversations about a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia came to a screeching halt Friday, after a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy led to a canceled press conference, a minerals deal off the table and Trump asking the Ukrainian president to leave, a White House official confirmed.
Trump accused Zelenskyy of "disrespecting" the U.S. during their Friday meeting, and said the Ukrainian leader was not ready to secure peace for his country.
"I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations," Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday. "I don't want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the U...
Tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump burst into the open Friday in the Oval Office as the Ukrainian leader urged the U.S. not to trust Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump responded that Kyiv needed to accept that it had a weak negotiating hand.
Ukraine had sought the meeting to line up U.S. support against Russian aggression, which it hoped to solidify with the signing of a mineral-rights deal later in the day.
But after a half-hour of a generally polite discussion, the tone of the session became testy as disagreements that typically occur behind closed doors spilled out into the open.
Zelensky sought to explain to Vice President JD Vance that Ukraine had signed a number of agreements with Russia that Mo...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 28, 2025 - Some cans of Trappey's Black-Eyed Peas Flavored with Slab Bacon, distributed by McCall Farms, bear an unauthorized STAR-K symbol. The product is NOT KOSHER. Corrective action has been taken.
Although throughout the portion discussing the construction of the Tabernacle, the term 'משכן' is exclusively used to describe G-d's 'residence', there is one exception.
They shall make for me a מקדש — Sanctuary for Me — so that I will dwell among them… (שמות כה ז)
Although these terms are synonymous, why did it divert only this one time?
Of all the numerous blessings we recite daily there is only one that not only addresses G-d directly but refers to G-d sitting on His כסא הכבוד — Throne of Glory, which we are taught is situated in the Mikdash upon high, that is aligned with the one on earth.
After experiencing our bodies healthy digestive system doing its job, we recite the blessing of Asher Yatzar where we decl...
Parshas Terumah begins with Hashem commanding Moshe Rabbeinu to collect “Terumah” from Bnei Yisroel in order to build the Mishkan and all of its adornments. The Terumah to be collected was in the form of gold, silver, copper, special woods and oil – all of which were to be used in the daily operation of the Mishkan. Yet in giving this commandment, the Torah appears to use grammatically incorrect language in its delivery.
The actual words of the Torah are “Speak to Bnei Yisroel and ‘take’ for me Terumah”. (25:2) Since the commandment in question really involves “giving” to Hashem it would seem that the more appropriate word to use would be “give” to me Terumah. Chazal offer a variety of explanations...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 27, 2025 - The following letter was written last year by Mr. Louis Cuevas, about his impressions of the Lakewood Cheder and the community at large.
Last year, just after the Hamas-led attacks in Israel, I began working for IronRock Security. My employer placed me at the Lakewood Cheder School. On my first day, I discovered that our school was the largest boys' school in the U.S.—a pretty daunting task in an unfamiliar environment. But it didn’t take long for me to realize how quickly I would fall in love with this community.
Every day, I interact with hundreds of rabbis, administrators, staff members, parents, students, and visitors at our massive school. My daily interactions with parents and staff are unlike any other job I’ve had. Now...
Northern Israel - Feb. 27, 2025 - A car-ramming incident at Karkur Junction this afternoon left a seven-year-old girl critically injured, two others seriously hurt, one moderately injured, and six sustaining minor injuries. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene and transported all the victims to Hillel Yafe Medical Center. The suspected assailant was neutralized.
The incident took place at around 4:18 p.m. on Highway 65 West, with victims struck while waiting near a bus stop. Emergency services, including Mobile Intensive Care Units and ambulances, provided urgent medical care and triage. Some patients required advanced lifesaving measures before being rushed to the hospital.
The scene was described as chaotic, with injured individuals lying near the roadside and emerge...
In a Jan. 29 executive order, President Donald Trump directed additional measures to fight antisemitism, noting that Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel spawned "an unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses."
Leo Terrell, senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for civil rights who is heading up a new Justice Department Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, told Fox News Digital that the president has directed his task force "to use every tool in our toolbox as Department of Justice to stop this antisemitic behavior."
He added that Attorney General Pam Bondi "has been following President Trump’s directive. … She has given me the gree...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 27, 2025 - Explore the latest issue of Baltimore Jewish Home.Click on the graphic below:
Annapolis, MD - Feb. 27, 2025 - A majority of Republicans and unaffiliated voters in Maryland have considered leaving the state, according to a new UMBC poll.
Overall, however, most Marylanders say the state is an "excellent" or "good" place to raise a family and get health care.
The latest UMBC poll - which is done by the university's Institute of Politics, run by prominent local pollster Mileah Kromer - surveyed Marylanders' attitudes on living in the state and whether they'd like to move.
The poll showed 69 percent of unaffiliated/independent voters and 63 percent of Republicans have considered moving, while only 39 percent of Democrats have.
Overall, about 53 percent of Marylanders have considered moving to a different state in the next few ...
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee will from now on only refer to the West Bank by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria, the Axios news site reports, citing an internal committee memo sent yesterday by its chairman Rep. Brian Mast, a Florida Republican, to the 50 GOP staffers on the panel.
The report says Mast wrote that “in recognition of our unbreakable bond with Israel and the inherent right of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, the House Foreign Affairs committee will, from here forward, refer to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria in formal correspondence, communication and documentation.”
“Jewish roots in this region span centuries,” he added, and “as representatives of the American people, we must do our part to stem this reprehensib...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 26, 2025 - Baltimore’s gymnastics community has a new reason to celebrate! Nine talented athletes from the Bas Melech Gymnastics Team recently traveled to Miami to compete in the National Girls Jewish Gymnastics League—and they didn’t just participate; they dominated.
The team placed in all areas and across all the age ranges and brought home multiple medals proving that their dedication and hard work paid off in a big way.
Medals won by the Bas Melech team:
1st, 2nd and 3rd place on beam
1st, 3rd, 4th and 8th place for floor
3rd and 4th place on bar
1st, 2nd and 3rd place for all around
(Ages 13-17)
3rd place for beam
2nd place for floor
6th place for bar
4th, 5th and 12th for all around
(Ages 11-12)
8th and 9th place for b...
Baltimore, MD – Feb. 26, 2025 - Tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 27, Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar, is Yom Kippur Koton and is a special opportunity to daven on behalf of Achainu B'nei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel and worldwide.
Please note the following Yom Kippur Koton Mincha Minyanim in town:(If you know of any others, please let us know so we may add them to this list.)
Khal Ahavas Yisrael Tzemach Tzedek (KAYTT) - Rabbi Dovid Heber – 12:55PM
The Ezras Noshim will be open for women. ArtScroll Yom Kippur Koton booklets will be available.
Community Kollel - 2:45PM
Agudah of Park Heights - Rabbi Moshe Heinemann - 4:55PM (Upstairs 3rd floor)
Bais HaKnesses Ohr HaChaim - Rabbi Zvi Weiss - 5:00PM
(Please text 410-458-9522 if you will be fasting.)
Darchei Tzedek - Rabbi Y...
Washington, D.C. – Feb. 26, 2025 - While record-high egg prices have left Trump officials "scrambling" for a solution to bring down costs, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins floated options to "immediately" reduce money spent on the dietary staple.
"We're looking at importing some eggs in the short term," she said from the White House lawn on Wednesday.
"We're talking to several countries around the world that can get us eggs right away. This would not be a long-term fix, but to immediately begin to bring those prices down."
The fourth pillar of a five-pronged approach to alleviating some of the cost burden, importing eggs is just a portion of a more all-encompassing plan that entails deregulation, investments in biosecurity, repopulating fowl and inves...
