David finds himself surrounded by King Saul and those allied to him who have slandered him. Although, by the hand of fate King Saul is suddenly diverted to dealing with the Philistines, leaving David to live another day, David turns to G-d to save him from his tormentors.
He appeals, תצפנם בסוכה — "Hide them [the righteous] in a Sukkah — shelter, מריב לשונות — from the strife of tongues." (תהלים לא כא)
The Gaon of Vilna sees in this verse that the objective of the mitzva of Sukkah is the subduing of the inclination from speaking Loshon Hora — slander.
He points out how the very letters in the word סוכה indicate this.
The pronunciation of the word סוכה — Sukkah engages four out of the five parts of our mouth—our li...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 6, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Shlomo Tendler on the birth of a daughter.
Mazel Tov grandparents Rabbi & Mrs. Hillel Tendler and Rabbi & Mrs. Yisrael Gold
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בתם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
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September 29 at 3:33 pm
A Final Chesed in Loving Memory of Rav Dovid Frid Z'tl
Dear Friends,
With profound sorrow, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Rav Dovid Z'tl. On behalf of the family, we want to thank all those who stood by their side throughout the years. You were an amazing team that gave Rav Dovid lifesaving care. May you and yours be blessed with health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year and always.
For almost fifteen years, Rav Dovid was not only a beacon of strength and Emunah, but a true warrior, living each day with courage, dignity and deep devotion to Torah despite his struggle with the devastating and cruel disease, ALS. Unfortunately, years of 24/7 care, medical expenses and household needs have left enormous debts and there is no savings or insu...
ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and Jewish Federations of North America today released a comprehensive study that found over half (55 percent) of Jewish Americans experienced at least one form of antisemitism in the past 12 months and 57 percent believe that antisemitism is now a normal Jewish experience.
The study continued to show that nearly one-in-five respondents were either physically assaulted, physically threatened, or verbally harassed because of their Jewish identity in the past year, while over one-third witnessed an incident of actual or threatened antisemitic violence.
The study, conducted in partnership with Columbia University researchers, also reveals American Jews have significant safety concerns and are experiencing psychological effects. 79 percent of Jews are concern...
US President Donald Trump on Sunday commented on the talks with Hamas, scheduled to begin Monday in Egypt, on Trump’s plan to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Hamas that “time is of the essence or massive bloodshed will follow.”
“There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East. These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly,” wrote Trump.
“The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be...
Paramount announced Monday that it has acquired The Free Press, the media company founded by journalist Bari Weiss, who will now serve as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move, described as part of Paramount's broader effort to modernize its news operations, marks a significant shift in leadership under CEO David Ellison.
Weiss confirmed the acquisition in a message to subscribers, writing, "This morning, The Free Press is joining Paramount." She called the move "a testament to many things: The Free Press team; the vision of Paramount’s new leaders; the luck of starting an independent media company at the right moment; and the courage of my colleagues to leave behind old worlds to build a new one."
Weiss, who will continue to serve as CEO and editor-in-chie...
Baltimore, MD – Oct. 6, 2025 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Zelig & Tova (Cohn) Davidson on the birth of a son.
Mazel Tov to grandparents Yaakov & Breindy Davidson and Gobbie & Shayna Cohn
Mazel Tov great-grandparents Mrs. Florence Davidson, Louis & Helen Kaplan, Mrs. Bracha Strimber, and Jeff & Karen Cohn
יה"ר שיזכו לגדל בנם לתורה, לחופה, ולמעשים טובים. אמן!
Jerusalem, Israel - October 6, 2025 - Expanding its mission of hope and healing in Israel, the Gilat Foundation held its first annual Gala at ALYN Hospital featuring an intimate performance by Israeli superstar Ishay Ribo, whose inspirational music serves as a soundtrack of hope and healing for many.
Founded in memory of Gilat Eisenmann, z”l, a vibrant 11-year-old who passed away in 2008, the Gilat Foundation provides therapeutic live theater to children in hospitals throughout the Netherlands, and now, Israel. Gilat's performers bring moments of emotional relief to children facing long-term hospitalization, trauma, grief, and the profound uncertainty of war.
Since the devastating attacks of October 7, 2023, the Foundation has been operating in four Jerusalem h...
Teaneck, NJ - Oct. 6, 2025 - Rabbi Avraham Wein, assistant rabbi at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, New Jersey, was assaulted Sunday afternoon outside his residence in Bergenfield.
Authorities report that the assailant emerged from a vehicle and struck Rabbi Wein before two bystanders intervened and restrained him until police arrived.
Earlier reports claiming that the attack occurred while Rabbi Wein was building a sukkah were later refuted by officials.
Rabbi Wein was not hospitalized and is in good condition, according to local statements. The suspect is in custody, though no motive has been established, and the investigation is ongoing.
Local police and municipal officials condemned the assault as a “disgraceful act of violence” with “no place” in ...
Tel Aviv, Israel - Oct. 5, 2025 - Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed the Israeli delegation, headed by Minister Ron Dermer, to depart. The delegation will depart as early as tomorrow for the negotiations, which are to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Al-Arabiya reports that Hamas has begun locating the bodies of deceased hostages across the Gaza Strip, concurrent with advances in negotiations over a deal.
A Hamas official told the network there is a need for Israel to halt its airstrikes to allow the collection and its completion. "We started to collect the Israeli deceased hostages and asked for the strikes to stop in order to do so. The release of living hostages will be carried out in one stage, but handing over the remains will take some time."
The official additi...
A Week of Liberation
Each year, just before Sukkot, I am reminded of some of the first words of Torah I ever heard. I was fifteen, and was attending an educational event for young people in Jerusalem. As we were about to eat, a girl named Daphna declared that “we can’t sit here and eat without a dvar Torah, even if it’s just something short.” I did not know what a “dvar Torah” was, but she immediately continued. “There is a clear connection between Sukkot and Pesach. Both of these festivals teach us to appreciate the most basic necessities of life. On Pesach we learn to appreciate bread after a whole week without it, and on Sukkot we learn to appreciate our homes after a week of living in booths.”
This simple thought stayed with me for year...
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 5, 2025 - Yom Tov, unlike Shabbos, permits the kindling of a flame from a pre-existing one. This means that you can cook using your stove, as long as the flame was lit before the commencement of Yom Tov. However, this presents certain safety concerns.Leaving your stove on over Yom Tov requires careful consideration.
In such cases, it's vital to ensure proper ventilation. If your stove is powered by gas, carbon monoxide - a deadly, odorless gas - can accumulate in your home if the room isn't well-ventilated.The best way to mitigate this risk is to leave a window partially open near the stove, which will allow fresh air to circulate. You can also use an exhaust fan to expel any gases from the kitchen area. While it's imp...
Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke today (Sunday) at the state memorial ceremony for the fallen of the Yom Kippur War and addressed US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war and secure the release of all hostages.
“Just as in the Yom Kippur War, so too today: we knew how to rise and recover against those who sought to annihilate us, then as now,” Katz said. “We owe so much to those who stood, and stand, on the front — on land, at sea and in the air — prepared to pay the heaviest price of all.”
Katz added that Israel may soon be informed of the return home of all the hostages. “About two years after the black Shabbat on Simchat Torah, we may soon be informed of the return home of all our hostages, the living and the fallen alike, accor...
October 7 and Sukkot
Two years ago, our perception of Simchat Torah changed forever. The Hamas invasion on Simchat Torah undermined our simchah then and will continue to challenge our celebration in years to come. Just as Yom Kippur reminds us of the Yom Kippur War, so too we now associate Simchat Torah with the Hamas attack.
But the day of the attack was not just Simchat Torah — it was also the morning after Sukkot. That is significant because the sukkah symbolizes Hashem’s protection. It commemorates the Ananei HaKavod that safeguarded the Jewish people during their forty-year journey through the desert. Each year, we sit in the sukkah to recall Hashem’s protection then, and His continued protection today.
Two years ago, however, that protection felt absent. Less tha...
President Trump plans to mobilize 300 members of the National Guard in Illinois, the latest development in a long-simmering confrontation between the White House and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker over crime and immigration policy.“Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has authorized 300 National Guardsmen to protect federal officers and assets,” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said Saturday evening. “President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”
A federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked Trump from deploying the Oregon National Guard to Portland.
The Illinois governor said earlier in the day th...
