Four sites connected to the Jewish community were vandalized Friday night in the Marais district of central Paris, French media outlet RTL reported, citing police sources.
The sites included a Holocaust memorial, the Tournelles Synagogue, the "Chez Marianne" restaurant, and the Agoudath HaKehilot Synagogue; all were defaced with green paint.
The incident was discovered by a police patrol at around 5:15 a.m. The Tournelles Synagogue is an Orthodox Ashkenazi and Sephardi synagogue located in the Marais neighborhood.
Ariel Weil, Mayor of Central Paris, posted on X: “After the red paint, comes the green paint. This time, the gesture is more precise: a Holocaust memorial, synagogues, and a 'Jewish' restaurant. After all, it's just heritage. And it's sure t...
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Don’t miss out on tuition benefits from the Maryland529.com State Contribution Program - May 31st DEADLINE
Baltimore, MD - May 27, 2025 - The window to apply for the Save4College State Contribution Program (aka the Maryland Match) closes on May 31st (Motzei Shabbos) at 11:59pm. If you have not already done so, now is the time to apply (for new applicants) or re-apply (if you already are an account holder and have yet to reach the $9K limit for received state contributions).
Applying for the State Contribution Program:
In order to apply for the Save4College State Contribution Program, you must already have a Maryland 529 College Investment Program account. If you do, simply log on to your account and click “Maryland Save4College State Contribution Program” link (usu...
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A Dedication Ceremony Was Held at Ramot Mall in Jerusalem for the New “Lehachayot” Kindness Club
Jerusalem, Israel - May 26, 2025 - At the Ramot Mall in Jerusalem, a dedication ceremony was held for the new Kindness Club of the “Lehachayot” organization – a special, thoughtfully designed space dedicated to the well-being of children with special needs and their families. The initiative was spearheaded by the energetic Chabad community activist, Rabbi Mendy Lebel.
The club was inaugurated by the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, and former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau.
Rabbi Lebel founded the “Beit Halomotai” center for individuals with special needs, was the driving force behind the project.
Photo: Mendi Kotle...
US envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday rejected Hamas' response to the newest ceasefire proposal, slamming it as "totally unacceptable" and stressing that it "only takes us backward."
A senior official familiar with the details of the negotiations revealed that a thorough analysis of Hamas' response shows that the terror group's proposal is far from aligning with Israel’s offer.
Among Hamas’ demands: a ceasefire lasting up to seven years, a full IDF withdrawal from all areas captured since March, cancellation of the new humanitarian aid distribution model led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and a return to the previous distribution system. “This isn’t a response — it’s a slammed door,” the official stated.
The Prime Min...
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Baltimore County, MD – May 30, 2025 – A zoning hearing has been scheduled for Monday, June 2, from 10–11 AM, regarding a proposal to open a cannabis dispensary at 301 Reisterstown Road, near Randall Avenue — just half a block from Seven Mile Market. The applicant is seeking a special exception in a commercial revitalization district, along with a variance for a modified parking plan and front setback.
However, June 2 is the second day of Shavuos. As a result, members of the community will obviously be unable to participate.
Scheduling this hearing on a day when a major portion of the community cannot be present is both exclusionary and deeply troubling.
Why This Matters: Potential Concerns
Community members have raised serious concerns about the impa...
Baltimore, MD – May 31, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Avi & Gavriella Snitzer on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel Tov grandparents Shirley & David Snitzer and Michael & Rachel Lebowitz
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Baltimore, MD – May 30, 2025 – Spotlight 2025 was more than a celebration… it was a tribute to nearly five decades of extraordinary vision, unwavering commitment, and transformative leadership from Dr. Zipora Schorr.
Held in the Dahan Sanctuary on the Beth Tfiloh campus, the evening featured heartfelt remarks from Rabbi Chai Posner, Head Rabbi of Beth Tfiloh Congregation; Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, Rabbi-in-Residence; event co-chairs Hudi Schorr ’01 and Yanky Schorr; and Dr. Schorr herself. Known for her humility and deeply private nature, Dr. Schorr offered a rare glimpse into the values that matter most to her. She spoke about her upbringing, the strength and influence of her mother, the centrality of family, and the guiding force of a Torah lifestyle. Her reflect...
Baltimore, MD - May 30, 2025 - Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable black & white version
Baltimore, MD – May 30, 2025 – With excitement and heartfelt mazal tovs across the community, Bais Dovid (Bais Medrash of Summit Park) Rabbi Shlomo Weiss has officially been announced the winner of the ArtScroll Shul Set-A-Thon, a national campaign offering full seforim libraries to selected shuls.
As part of the campaign, which ran from May 12–27, participants were encouraged to purchase ArtScroll sets and register their shul of choice. The more entries submitted on behalf of a shul, the higher the chance of winning. The campaign culminated in a drawing where Bais Dovid was selected, as confirmed in a visual announcement showing the wheel of entries landing on “Bais Dovid (Bais Medrash of Summit Park) – 6800 Sylvale Ct, Baltimore, MD.”
The simcha didn...
US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza is close, speculating that an official announcement could come on Friday or Saturday.
Trump also said that he believes a deal with Iran on its nuclear program is close as well.
“They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow, and I think we have a chance of making a deal with Iran. They don’t want to be blown up, they would rather make a deal, and I think that could happen in the not too distant future,” he said.
“We want them to be safe. We want them to have a very, very successful nation. Let it be a great nation, but we can't have that. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. I...
Baltimore, MD - May 30, 2025 - A Tornado Watch is now in effect for Baltimore City and County through midnight.
Baltimore, MD - May 30, 2025 - Eight Maryland counties and Baltimore City are classified as “Sanctuary jurisdictions,” according to the Trump administration.
A sanctuary jurisdiction is defined as, “cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities,” according to the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties each made the list, in addition to 10 cities across the state.
The website said the jurisdictions were determined by several factors, such as compliance with federal law enforcement and, “legal protections for ill...
The Supreme Court will allow the government to begin removing temporary immigration protections from a group of about 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The unsigned order on Friday halts, for now, a lower court injunction that stopped the government from ending the program while the case continues. It is the second time in recent weeks the Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to end temporary immigration protections while those moves are being challenged in court.
The Biden administration granted temporary parole to large groups of immigrants from the four countries who met certain criteria, allowing them to seek work authorization and other legal protections. In March, the Department of Homeland Security canceled the mass parole approval,...
Baltimore, MD – May 30, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Yisroel Wein (Baltimore) and Tzipi Schwed (Lakewood) on their engagement!
Mazel Tov to Rabbi & Rebetzin Simcha & Aliza Wein and Rabbi & Mrs. Moshe Pinchas and Chaya Schwed
Mazel Tov to grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Joseph & Helaine Bondar, Rabbi Moishe & Leah Esther Elefant and Mr. & Mrs.Yankie & Tamara Schwed and great-grandfather Reb Shia Brisk
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
Saudi Arabia's defense minister delivered a blunt message to Iranian officials in Tehran last month: take President Donald Trump's offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously because it presents a way to avoid the risk of war with Israel.
Alarmed at the prospect of further instability in the region, Saudi Arabia's 89-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz dispatched his son, Prince Khalid bin Salman, with the warning destined for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two Gulf sources close to government circles and two Iranian officials.
Present at the closed-door meeting in Tehran, which took place on April 17 in the presidential compound, were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and Forei...
A Yonkers man received a six-year prison sentence and three years of supervised release on Thursday for attacking a Jewish barber, News 12 Westchester reported.
Ahmed al Jabali, 34, was sentenced by Judge James McCarty at Westchester County Court in White Plains.
Judge McCarty condemned al Jabali's actions, stating, "You admitted to and committed a reprehensible act, which hurt another person."
The victim, 50-year-old Jewish barber Slava Shushakov, was attacked with scissors in his Yonkers Avenue barbershop last August. Police reported that al Jabali used expletives and expressed a desire to kill the victim during the assault, which left Shushakov with multiple cuts.
Al Jabali pleaded guilty in April to second-degree assault as a hate crime and expres...
Baltimore, MD - May 29, 2025 - Click on the graphic below for a larger, printable version.
The views expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BJL or its editorial staff.
I recently shared in an especially uplifting celebration of a young man who became a Bar Mitzva. His parents, who hail from the former Soviet Union, after having arrived in America, found their path back to full observance.
The father spoke at the Bar Mitzva and offered the following words.
Thank you all for joining this remarkable Simcha!
As you know, we have come from a country that had no Yiddishkeit, no Torah, and denied the existence of Hashem.
When we came to America, we never dreamed about learning Torah, being Shomrei Mitzvos, and living as proud Yidden.
Our families have not celebrated Bar Mitzvas for more than two generations!
You cannot imagine how thrilled we are that we have merited to raise our son to be a Bar Mitzvah, doing Mitzvos and learning Torah.
We are overwh...
