Why Did You Stay Alive?
It was a moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
This past Simchat Torah, hundreds of young Nova survivors gathered at a Jerusalem hotel to celebrate the Yom Tov alongside bereaved families and families of hostages. Everything in their world had changed since the previous Simchat Torah — October 7, 2023. They talked, hugged, danced with the sifrei Torah. But one guest, a young man, sat off to the side, withdrawn and heavy-hearted.
Eliyahu Libman, whose son Elyakim was murdered at Nova after saving dozens, approached the young man with his wife, Avishag. I stood nearby, listening.
“What’s your name?” Eliyahu asked.
“Nachman Dahan,” came the tearful reply. Then, shaking, Nachman began to speak — about the frien...
We are so grateful for being here in Israel, particularly on this day, recognizing the destruction of the Temple—twice in history. This is an emotional time for us to be at the Western Wall. My prayer is that America will always stand with Israel, and for the preservation and peace of Jerusalem."
Jerusalem, Israel - Aug. 4, 2025 - As the Tisha B’Av fast draws to a close, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mr. Mike Johnson, arrived last night for a visit and prayer at the Kotel on the day the Jewish people mark the destruction of both the First and Second Temples.
The delegation was welcomed by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Kotel and the holy sites, and Mr. Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. They thanked ...
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 4, 2025 - An inspector's alleged violation of Maryland environmental laws have resulted in the revocation of 1,400 lead inspection certificates.
The affected properties must now undergo re-inspection.
Maryland's Department of the Environment says it notified impacted owners and tenants by mail.
So far three children at the affected locations have tested positive for elevated lead levels.
Rodney Bryan Barkley, the owner of Green Environmental, LLC, is accused of improperly using a lead detection devices with radioactive materials.
The Maryland Attorney General's Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit have filed criminal charges against Barkley for allegedly submitting falsified lead paint certificates.
Court records show he faces 31 total c...
Jerusalem, Israel - Aug. 4, 2025 - Governor of Arkansas visited the Kotel with her father, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee: “It is an honor to be here. I’m grateful to join my parents in prayer for Israel, the United States, and especially the people of Arkansas. This is a sacred and special place, and I’m proud to express solidarity and support here — and to remember that Arkansas will always stand with Israel.” Upon landing and beginning her official visit to Israel, governor of Arkansas, Mrs. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, together with her husband, her father - U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mr. Mike Huckabee, and her mother, visited the Western Wall Plaza yesterday (Sunday) to mark Tisha B’Av.They were welcomed by the rabbi of the Western Wal...
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Baltimore, MD – Aug. 3, 2025 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Norman Soskil, z’l, husband of Joanie Soskil, and father of Rabbi Mordechai (Allison) Soskil and Eric Soskil.
The levayah will take place graveside on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at 1:00PM at New Montefiore cemetery 1180 Wellwood Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704.
Shiva will be observed beginning Wednesday morning at 6017 Berkeley Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209
Shacharis: Wednesday & Friday: 7:00AM, Thursday & Monday:6:50AM, Sunday: 8:00AM
Mincha/Maariv: 8:00PM (Erev Shabbos: TBD)
The family respectfully request no visitors from 12:30PM-2:00PM and 5:00PM-7:00PM
Jerusalem, Israel - Aug. 3, 2025 - Over 100,000 worshippers visited the Kotel during the Tisha B’Av fast • As the fast came to a close, thousands gathered at the Western Wall Plaza to pray for the return of the hostages, the safety of IDF soldiers, and the unity of the people of Israel
Beginning last night, Saturday night – the eve of Tisha B’Av – with the reading of Eicha and recitation of kinot, and continuing until this evening, tens of thousands of worshippers visited the Western Wall to mark the fast of Tisha B’Av and to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem, near the site of the Temple.
This evening (Sunday), as the fast ended, thousands from Israel and around the world filled the Western Wall Plaza for profoundly moving moments, as Jews from across ...
Baltimore, MD – Aug. 3, 2025 - BJL regrets to inform the community of the petirah of Sylvia Singer, a’h, mother of Rabbi Yosef Singer
The levaya will be held today, Sunday, August 3, 2025, graveside at the United Hebrew Cemetery located at 3901 Washington Boulevard at 5:00 p.m.
Shiva will be observed at 3401 Seven Mile Lane, Baltimore, MD, 21208.Minyanim:Shacharis 7:45PMMincha/Maariv: 8;00PM,
בלע המוות לנצח …
Baltimore, MD – July 31, 2025 – With Tisha B’Av falling this year on a Sunday, there are a number of unique halachos that arise not encountered in a typical year.
To assist our readership, we are zocheh to present four sets of halachic guidelines compiled by Rabbi Shalom Aryeh Greenfield (reviewed by Harav Moshe Heinemann), Rabbi Binyamin Marwick, Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, and Rabbi Yosef Friedman
Baltimore, MD - Aug. 2, 2025 - Baltimore marked another month in which fewer people were killed or shot than in years past.
So far this year, the city has recorded 84 homicides, which is down more than 24% over this time last year.
When it comes to non-fatal shootings, city police said there have been 190 so far this year, which is down more than 18% from this time last year.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott highlighted the city’s historic decline in violent crime.
“We’re through seven months of the year, and we have the lowest amount of homicides that we’ve seen on record — that’s historic progress for us, but, as I always say, that’s not a cause for celebration. This is for us to acknowledge the progress that we’ve made from where we were,...
The Israel Defense Forces defeated Hamas’s Beit Hanoun battalion, the military declared on Saturday, after three of the terror group’s operatives surrendered to troops of the Givati Brigade in the northern Gaza town.
The operatives emerged from a tunnel and surrendered to the forces in the area, the IDF said, adding that they told the troops they had sought to flee the area after another gunman with them was killed during a previous exchange of fire with the military.
The Hamas gunmen also led the forces to a weapons depot near the tunnel from which they emerged, where the IDF said the troops found numerous weapons and equipment.
The military stated that troops also discovered food, water, and other supplies inside the tunnel, suggesting it could be used for long-term underg...
Hamas on Saturday said it would not disarm “as long as the occupation exists,” denying reported remarks to the contrary by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and blasting him for visiting an aid site run by the controversial, US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
In a statement, Hamas vowed to continue its violent struggle, saying its right to do so was guaranteed by international law until Palestinians’ “national rights” were realized, “foremost among them… the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and Jerusalem as its capital.”
The terror group also assailed Witkoff’s visit to the GHF amid reports of soaring hunger in Gaza, and that hundreds of Palestinian aid seekers have ...
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday night responded to the publication of footage revealing the starvation and inhumane conditions in which Hamas is holding Israeli hostages.
"The faces of hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, say it all," Herzog noted. "Forced to dig their own graves. Tormented with execution. Starved, tortured, wasting away in Hamas’ terror tunnels."
"But Hamas doesn’t just starve the hostages. It starves the people of Gaza, by looting aid and blocking humanitarian deliveries which Israel has worked with its international partners to increase.
"Now Hamas spreads lies and libels, blaming Israel to exploit global compassion. Hamas rejoices as it succeeds in distracting the world from their own crimes against humanity."
"This...
British journalist Piers Morgan caused an uproar on Saturday after publishing a controversial post on X in the aftermath of the video of hostage Evyatar David which was published by Hamas.
“It’s interesting that all the prominent pro-Israeli voices on here who refuse to believe any Gazan casualty numbers published by the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry, accept the veracity of hostage pix/videos posted by Hamas without hesitation,” Morgan wrote.
Many users expressed outrage over the post. One user replied, “You do understand there's a difference between ‘numbers Hamas says’ and a video we see with OUR OWN EYES — where we know the hostage, we know his family, he's our brother. Right?”
Another user wrote in response,...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Saturday night at length with the families of the hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, after videos of the two of them in difficult conditions were released.
The Prime Minister expressed profound shock over the materials distributed by the terror organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and told the families that the efforts to return all our hostages are ongoing, and will continue constantly and relentlessly.
The Prime Minister conveyed, in his wife Sara's name, a great embrace to the families, telling them that she is heartbroken over the unbearable videos.
"The cruelty of Hamas has no boundaries. While the State of Israel is allowing the entry of humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza, the terrorists of Hamas are d...
Jerusalem, Israel - Aug. 2, 2025 - Thousands have been flocking to the Kotel on the night of Tisha B'Av for the reading of Eicha and the recitation of Kinot near the site of the destruction.
Baltimore, MD -Aug. 1, 2025 - I was leaving shul this week, chatting casually with someone about our recent games in a tennis league that benefits a prominent cause. I mentioned how I had lost a playoff match badly, and he seemed surprised – “What happened?” he asked. I shrugged and said, “My back was killing me. I got injured in a previous match.”
A third person walking alongside us gently chimed in. “You know,” he said softly, “you really shouldn’t complain like that... My grandfather just passed away, and he had terrible back pain.”
At first, I wasn’t sure what he meant. Was he saying that my minor injury paled in comparison to what his grandfather endured? Was it a gentle reminder to be more grateful?
But then it hit ...
I remember a Tisha B’av two decades ago. It was before five wars and thousands of missiles. Before October 7, close to two years of hostages and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Before 1000s of Israelis and 10,000s of Palestinians had died or children were starving for food. But twenty years ago, Gaza was still on our minds. The Tisha B’av twenty years ago was the day before the withdrawal.
I remember for months before Tisha B’Av, the battle in Israel between the “blues” and the “oranges”. The by-line of Yehudi Lo Migaresh Yehudi – Jews do not chase away Jews. I remember the picture of Israelis making a minyan through a fence – some on one side, supporting the withdrawal and some on the other, protesti...
